Električno prevoden kompozit naravnega kavčuka in grafena

Hrvatin, Žiga (author), Alič, Branko (mentor)

V diplomskem delu sem poskušal pripraviti kompozitni material iz grafena in lateksa naravne gume, ki bi imel izboljšane mehanske in električno prevodne lastnosti. Za pripravo disperzij grafena sem uporabil različne emulgatorje, nato pa z analizo velikosti delcev preveril učinkovitost emulgatorja in dispergiranja grafena v vodi. Stabilnim disperzijam sem dodal lateks, ga homogeniziral s pomočjo ultrazvoka, ulil v modele tankih filmov in posušil. Vzorce v obliki trakov sem uporabil za meritve električne prevodnosti z dvotočkovno metodo. Prevodnost sem izmeril z dvema različnima aparaturama, ki sta privedli do enake ugotovitve. Izbira emulgatorja vpliva na kakovost filma, večja vsebnost grafena pa izboljša električno prevodnost do določene mere, ko homogenega filma ni več mogoče tvoriti. Mehanske lastnosti kompozitnega materiala sem izmeril z nateznim testom. Iz rezultatov je razvidno, da previsoka vsebnost grafena poslabša homogenost vzorca in natezno trdnost.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Lateks naravne gume, grafen, emulgator, prevodnost, kompozit
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185742
• Publication date in RUL: 19.08.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Electrically conductive composite of natural rubber and graphene

Abstract

In this thesis, I attempted to prepare a composite material from graphene and natural rubber latex with improved mechanical and electrical conductivity properties. To prepare the graphene dispersions, I used various emulsifiers and subsequently verified the effectiveness of the emulsifier and graphene dispersion in water using particle size analysis. I added latex to the stable dispersions, homogenized the mixture using ultrasound, cast it into thin-film moulds and dried it. Strip-shaped samples were used to measure electrical conductivity using the two-point method. Conductivity was measured using two different instruments, both leading to the same conclusion. The choice of emulsifier affects the quality of the film, while a higher graphene content improves electrical conductivity up to a certain point, beyond which it is no longer possible to form a homogeneous film. The mechanical properties of the composite material were measured using a tensile strength test. The results show that an excessively high graphene content deteriorates the homogeneity of the sample and its tensile strength.

• Keywords: Natural rubber latex, graphene, emulsifier, conductivity, composite