Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers

In this study, the enhancement mechanism of the nano-dispersion of stearic acid-modified montmorillonite (SMMT) induced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in ethylene-butene terpolymer (EBT) was comprehensively investigated, and the regulation effect of composite fillers on EBT properties was revealed. Scan...

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Main Authors: Li Zhang, Jianming Liu, Duanjiao Li, Wenxing Sun, Zhi Li, Yongchao Liang, Qiang Fu, Nian Tang, Bo Zhang, Fei Huang, Xuelian Fan, Yuansi Wei, Pengxiang Bai, Yuqi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/612
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author Li Zhang
Jianming Liu
Duanjiao Li
Wenxing Sun
Zhi Li
Yongchao Liang
Qiang Fu
Nian Tang
Bo Zhang
Fei Huang
Xuelian Fan
Yuansi Wei
Pengxiang Bai
Yuqi Wang
author_facet Li Zhang
Jianming Liu
Duanjiao Li
Wenxing Sun
Zhi Li
Yongchao Liang
Qiang Fu
Nian Tang
Bo Zhang
Fei Huang
Xuelian Fan
Yuansi Wei
Pengxiang Bai
Yuqi Wang
author_sort Li Zhang
collection DOAJ
description In this study, the enhancement mechanism of the nano-dispersion of stearic acid-modified montmorillonite (SMMT) induced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in ethylene-butene terpolymer (EBT) was comprehensively investigated, and the regulation effect of composite fillers on EBT properties was revealed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that SMMT achieved homogeneous nanoscale dispersion after CNT addition, and the size of aggregates was greatly reduced. Four-cycle strain-scanning analysis revealed a 200% increase in rubber–filler (R-F) interaction strength due to CNT incorporation. At the optimal CNT/SMMT ratio of 1:5, the EBT composites exhibited a 40.4% increase in Young’s modulus, 71.4% enhancement in tensile strength, and maintained 250% elongation at break, effectively addressing the strength–toughness trade-off of traditional rigid fillers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed near 20 °C elevation in EBT composites’ maximum decomposition temperature, while water contact angle measurements indicated a hydrophobicity increase to 117.5° and water absorption rate below 0.2%. The quantitative improvement in thermal oxidation stability and hydrophobic barrier performance was achieved simultaneously.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-8a6f50b81ab54a6faaf47f5a2d8a9b532025-08-20T03:08:10ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-06-0115761210.3390/cryst15070612Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite LayersLi Zhang0Jianming Liu1Duanjiao Li2Wenxing Sun3Zhi Li4Yongchao Liang5Qiang Fu6Nian Tang7Bo Zhang8Fei Huang9Xuelian Fan10Yuansi Wei11Pengxiang Bai12Yuqi Wang13Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electric Power Equipment Reliability, Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electric Power Equipment Reliability, Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electric Power Equipment Reliability, Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electric Power Equipment Reliability, Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaAdvanced Sealing Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, ChinaIn this study, the enhancement mechanism of the nano-dispersion of stearic acid-modified montmorillonite (SMMT) induced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in ethylene-butene terpolymer (EBT) was comprehensively investigated, and the regulation effect of composite fillers on EBT properties was revealed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that SMMT achieved homogeneous nanoscale dispersion after CNT addition, and the size of aggregates was greatly reduced. Four-cycle strain-scanning analysis revealed a 200% increase in rubber–filler (R-F) interaction strength due to CNT incorporation. At the optimal CNT/SMMT ratio of 1:5, the EBT composites exhibited a 40.4% increase in Young’s modulus, 71.4% enhancement in tensile strength, and maintained 250% elongation at break, effectively addressing the strength–toughness trade-off of traditional rigid fillers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed near 20 °C elevation in EBT composites’ maximum decomposition temperature, while water contact angle measurements indicated a hydrophobicity increase to 117.5° and water absorption rate below 0.2%. The quantitative improvement in thermal oxidation stability and hydrophobic barrier performance was achieved simultaneously.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/612ethylene-butene-terpolymercarbon nanotubesmodified montmorillonitenanodispersionrubber-filler interactions
spellingShingle Li Zhang
Jianming Liu
Duanjiao Li
Wenxing Sun
Zhi Li
Yongchao Liang
Qiang Fu
Nian Tang
Bo Zhang
Fei Huang
Xuelian Fan
Yuansi Wei
Pengxiang Bai
Yuqi Wang
Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
Crystals
ethylene-butene-terpolymer
carbon nanotubes
modified montmorillonite
nanodispersion
rubber-filler interactions
title Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
title_full Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
title_fullStr Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
title_short Enhancement of Ethylene-Butene Terpolymer Performance via Carbon Nanotube-Induced Nanodispersion of Montmorillonite Layers
title_sort enhancement of ethylene butene terpolymer performance via carbon nanotube induced nanodispersion of montmorillonite layers
topic ethylene-butene-terpolymer
carbon nanotubes
modified montmorillonite
nanodispersion
rubber-filler interactions
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/612
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