MXene/NBR Nanocomposites with Excellent Thermal Conductivity and Wear Resistance Damping Properties

With the continuous development of science and technology, research and application of new materials are becoming more and more important. MXene, with its layered two-dimensional structure, is widely used as a new functional filler in rubber, offering excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties, and in electronic devices, sensors, and energy storage. However, due to its high surface energy, it is not quite compatible with most polymer substrates. Therefore, it is necessary to consider an appropriate method to compound it with polymer materials, and the emulsion method is one of the better methods. In this paper, Ti₃C₂ MXene was prepared by etching the M’AX phase (Ti₃AlC₂) powder with the hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution. Then, MXene was added to a nitrile latex (NBR) solution in the emulsion method to prepare MXene/NBR nanocomposites. Compared with pure nitrile butadiene rubber, the addition of MXene significantly improves the mechanical strength, wear resistance, and electrical conductivity of rubber nanocomposites. When the MXene content was 0.75 phr, the mechanical strength of NBR nanocomposites was optimized, the Akron wear was 0.1855 cm³, the thermal conductivity was 0.3216 W/m·K, and the volume resistivity was 0.13 × 10⁸ Ω·cm. The study also shows that MXene has a uniform dispersion, unique structure and properties, and great potential in the preparation of high-performance rubber nanocomposites.