EKSAKTA: Berkala Ilmiah Bidang MIPA
Open Access

Exploring Synergies: Tailoring Electrical Conductivity in Novel Corn Starch and Natural Rubber Polymer Composites through Varied Carbon Additives

1 Postgraduate Programme in Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
2 Advanced Functional Materials Research Group, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
Download PDF

Abstract

Conductive polymer composites were synthesized using a crosslinking method, enhancing conductivity through the incorporation of carbon additives. Non-conductive natural polymers, corn starch, and natural rubber were blended with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a crosslinking agent, enhancing polymer bonding. CMC also served as a compatibilizer, improving corn starch properties. Glycerol acted as a plasticizer, enhancing flexibility and processability. Addition of carbon nanotube (CNT), graphite, and carbon foam yielded low-density materials, with carbon foam providing optimal porosity. The crystalline properties mirrored the added conductive carbon, while the chemical structure remained unchanged. At 0.1 Hz, electrical conductivity varied: 1.192 x 10-7 S.cm-1 (no carbon), 6.123 x 10-4 S.cm-1 (CNT), 7.656 x 10-4 S.cm-1 (graphite), and 3.134 x 10-2 S.cm-1 (carbon foam). Graphite incorporation demonstrated an electrical conductivity of 7.838 x 10-4 S.cm-1. The introduced carbon additives facilitated a conductive pathway in corn starch-based polymer composites, elevating material conductivity.

References

1
Idumah C I. (2021). Novel trends in conductive polymeric nanocomposites, and bionanocomposites. Synthetic Metals, 273 116674.
2
Peng S, Yu Y, Wu S and Wang C-H. (2021). Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites for Stretchable Electronics: Material Selection, Design, and Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 13 43831–54.
3
Rashid A Bin and Hoque M E. (2022). Polymer nanocomposites for defense applications. Advanced Polymer Nanocomposites (Elsevier) pp 373–414
4
Biglari N and Zare E N. (2024). Conjugated polymer-based composite scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 87 277–99.
5
Kanoun O, Bouhamed A, Ramalingame R, Bautista-Quijano J R, Rajendran D and Al-Hamry A. (2021). Review on Conductive Polymer/CNTs Nanocomposites Based Flexible and Stretchable Strain and Pressure Sensors. Sensors, 21 1–29.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.

How to Cite

1.
Exploring Synergies: Tailoring Electrical Conductivity in Novel Corn Starch and Natural Rubber Polymer Composites through Varied Carbon Additives. EKSAKTA [Internet]. 2024 Jun. 30 [cited 2026 Aug. 22];25(02):188-200. Available from: https://eksakta.ppj.unp.ac.id/index.php/eksakta/article/view/500