Gold functionalized graphene oxide (GOAu) nanoparticles were reinforced in acrylonitrilebutadiene rubbers (NBR) via solution and melt mixing methods. The synthesized NBR-GOAu nanocomposites have shown significant improvements in their rate of curing, mechanical strength, thermal stability and electrical properties. The homogeneous dispersion of GOAu nanoparticles in NBR has been considered responsible for the enhanced thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of NBR nanocomposites. In addition, the NBR-GOAu nanocomposites were able to show a decreasing trend in their dielectric constant (ε´) and electrical resistance on straining within a range of 10–70%. The decreasing trend in ε´ is attributed to the decrease in electrode and interfacial polarization on straining the nanocomposites. The decreasing trend in electrical resistance in the nanocomposites is likely due to the attachment of Au nanoparticles to the surface of GO sheets which act as electrical interconnects. The Au nanoparticles have been proposed to function as ball rollers in-between GO nanosheets to improve their sliding on each other and to improve contacts with neighboring GO nanosheets, especially on straining the nanocomposites. The NBR-GOAu nanocomposites have exhibited piezoelectric gauge factor (GFε´) of ~0.5, and piezo-resistive gauge factor (GFR) of ~0.9 which clearly indicated that GOAu reinforced NBR nanocomposites are potentially useful in fabrication of structural, high temperature responsive, and stretchable strain-sensitive sensors.

폴리스티렌계 음이온교환막은 제조가 쉽고 공정이 간단한 장점을 갖고 있으나 막의 취성이 높아 내구성이 떨어지 는 단점을 가지고 있다. 이를 보완하여 유연하고 우수한 내구성을 갖는 막을 만들기 위해 acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber를 첨 가제로 사용하여 음이온교환막을 제조하였다. 다양한 조성의 vinylbenzylchloride와 styrene, divinylbenzene, acrylonitrile- butadiene rubber 그리고 benzoyl peroxide로 이루어진 단량체 용액을 지지체인 직물 형태의 지지체인 poly(propylene)위 에 캐스팅 후 열중합 가교시킨 다음 trimethylamine과 acetone을 이용하여 음이온 교환기(-N+(CH3)3)를 함유하는 복합막을 제 조하였다. 음이온 교환막 제조시 첨가제의 함량에 따른 막의 성능을 평가하여 최적화 비율을 찾고, 단량체의 함량을 변화하여 함수율, 이온교환용량(IEC) 및 전기저항 값을 측정하였다. 그 결과 최적화 비율로 제조된 막들은 아스톰사의 상용화 음이온 교환막(AMX)보다 높은 IEC와 낮은 전기저항 값을 나타내는 동시에 유연성과 내구성이 우수한 막이 만들어진 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

The tribological properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) filled with two kinds of carbon black filler were examined. Different types of Semi-Reinforcing Furnace (SRF), and High Abrasion Furnace (HAF) blacks were used as filler material to test the influence of carbon black particle size on the friction and wear of NBR. Results from tribological tests using a ball on disk method showed that the smaller HAF particles were more effective for reducing the wear of NBR during frictional sliding. The hardness, elastic modulus at 100% elongation, and elongation at break were measured to examine the correlation between the effects of carbon black on the mechanical and tribological properties of the NBR specimens. The wear tracks of the NBR specimens were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The wear tracks for NBR with different ratios of SRF and HAF showed clearly different abrasion patterns. Mechanisms for the friction and wear behavior of NBR with different sizes of carbon black filler were proposed using evidence from wear track observation, as well as the mechanical and tribological test results.