1
Effect of Carbon Nanotube Sonication Time to Rubber Band Matrix as
Stretchable Conductor
Muhammad Tesar Pamungkas1*
1Department
of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16242,
Indonesia
Abstract. Stretchable conductors are important component in the manufacture of flexible, soft, and
wearable electronic devices. The manufacture of stretchable conductors generally requires high
technology and costs. The good mechanical, electrical and hydrophobic properties of Carbon
Nanotubes (CNT) can be used to convert rubber bands into conductors that are stretchable,
inexpensive, and easy to manufacture. By immersing the rubber band in a solvent and sonicating it
in the CNT dispersion solution, a stretchable RB-CNT conductor can be produced. Xylene was chosen
as the solvent based on the difference in solubility parameters from 0.80 to 0.61 and the best level
of roughness on the surface of RB-CNT compared to other solvents. Sonication time is an important
factor in the manufacture of RB-CNT which determines the dispersion of CNTs on rubber bands. The
optimum sonication time was sought based on the morphology, electrical conductivity, tensile
strength, and hydrophobic properties of RB-CNT characterized by SEM (scanning electron
microscope), resistance test, tensile test, and wettability test. The longer the sonication time, the
morphological roughness of the RB-CNT increases, followed by the electrical conductivity which can
reach 0.914 S/m and a contact angle of 163o. From immersed rubber band to 60 minutes of
sonication time the tensile strength increased from 4.45 Mpa to 5.75 Mpa. Based on the profile of
changes in electrical conductivity, tensile strength, and contact angle, the optimum sonication time
is 40 minutes.
Keywords: carbon nanotubes; rubber band; sonication time; stretchable conductor