Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

PDMS/MWCNT nanocomposite films for underwater sound absorption applications

  • Composites & nanocomposites
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposite films for underwater sound absorption applications are presented. Films were fabricated by a spin coating method and characterized using XPS, FTIR, TGA, SEM, tensile testing, and elastic cold-neutron scattering. The XPS results reveal the addition of surfactant and carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-COOH) increased the components of C and O atoms by 4.12% and 2.81%, respectively, compared to the native PDMS film. The addition of MWCNT-COOH and surfactants to the PDMS also significantly improved the thermal stability (700 °C) of the nanocomposite material compared to pure PDMS. Tensile property measurements of PDMS nanocomposites indicate that the addition of 2 wt% of MWCNT-COOH significantly improves the elastic modulus by 48% compared to the pure PDMS. The addition of surfactant nonetheless decreases the Young’s modulus by 34% compared to pure PDMS, due to changes in the microstructure of the PDMS matrix. The advantage of the decreased Young’s modulus is to avoid acoustic impedance mismatch. The surface morphology detected by SEM indicates that the surfactant can improve the dispersion of MWCNT-COOH in the PDMS films. Further, the elastic cold-neutron scattering results demonstrate the diffusive motions near the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the nanocomposite films, providing in-depth details of the dynamic alignment of the inclusions within the material matrix. The PDMS/MWCNT-COOH/surfactant nanocomposite exhibited a sound absorption coefficient of 0.25, which was far higher than the PDMS control materials. This positive result indicates these PDMS nanocomposite films have promising future underwater sound absorption applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu L, Chen Y, Liu H, Rehman HU, Chen C, Kang H, Li H (2019) A graphene oxide and functionalized carbon nanotube based semi-open cellular network for sound absorption. Soft Matter 15(10):2269–2276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Andrew RK, Howe BM, Mercer JA, Dzieciuch MA (1990s) Ocean ambient sound: comparing the 1960s with the 1990s for a receiver off the California coast. Acoust Res Lett 3(2):65–70

    Google Scholar 

  3. García-Peláez J, Rego-Junco JM, Sánchez-Ricart L (2017) Reduction of underwater noise radiated by ships: design of metallic foams for diesel tanks. IEEE J Ocean Eng 43(2):444–456

    Google Scholar 

  4. Philip B, Abraham JK, Varadan VK, Natarajan V, Jayakumari VG (2004) Passive underwater acoustic damping materials with Rho-C rubber–carbon fiber and molecular sieves. Smart Mater Struct 13(6):99–104

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hai-Bin Y, Yue L, Hong-Gang Z, Ji-Hong W, Xi-Sen W (2014) Acoustic anechoic layers with singly periodic array of scatterers: computational methods, absorption mechanisms, and optimal design. Chin Phys B 23(10):104304

    Google Scholar 

  6. Li Y, Xu F, Lin Z, Sun X, Peng Q, Yuan Y, Wang S, Yang Z, He X, Li Y (2017) Electrically and thermally conductive underwater acoustically absorptive graphene/rubber nanocomposites for multifunctional applications. Nanoscale 9(38):14476–14485

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wolf MP, Salieb-Beugelaar GB, Hunziker P (2018) PDMS with designer functionalities—properties, modifications strategies, and applications. Prog Polym Sci 83:97–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rahman MF, Arshad MR, Manaf AA, Yaacob MI (2012) An investigation on the behaviour of PDMS as a membrane material for underwater acoustic sensing. Indian J Geo-Mar Sci 41:557–562

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guillermic RM, Lanoy M, Strybulevych A, Page JH (2019) A PDMS-based broadband acoustic impedance matched material for underwater applications. Ultrasonics 94:152–157

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Leroy V, Strybulevych A, Lanoy M, Lemoult F, Tourin A, Page JH (2015) Superabsorption of acoustic waves with bubble metascreens. Phys Rev B 91(2):020301

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sharma GS, Skvortsov A, MacGillivray I, Kessissoglou N (2017) Acoustic performance of gratings of cylindrical voids in a soft elastic medium with a steel backing. J Acoust Soc Am 141(6):4694–4704

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jin M, Feng X, Xi J, Zhai J, Cho K, Feng L, Jiang L (2005) Super-hydrophobic PDMS surface with ultra-low adhesive force. Macromol Rapid Commun 26(22):1805–1809

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Eduok U, Faye O, Szpunar J (2017) Recent developments and applications of protective silicone coatings: a review of PDMS functional materials. Prog Org Coat 111:124–163

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Eduok U, Faye O, Szpunar J (2016) Recent developments and applications of protective silicone coatings: a review of PDMS functional materials. Polym Compos 37:1786–1796

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jayakumari VG, Shamsudeen RK, Rajeswari R, Mukundan T (2019) Viscoelastic and acoustic characterization of polyurethane-based acoustic absorber panels for underwater applications. J Appl Polym Sci 136(10):47165

    Google Scholar 

  16. Khosla A, Gray BL (2009) Preparation, characterization and micromolding of multi-walled carbon nanotube polydimethylsiloxane conducting nanocomposite polymer. Mater Lett 63(13–14):1203–1206

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Reich S, Thomsen C, Maultzsch J (2008) Carbon nanotubes: basic concepts and physical properties. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  18. Spitalsky Z, Tasis D, Papagelis K, Galiotis C (2010) Carbon nanotube–polymer composites: chemistry, processing, mechanical and electrical properties. Prog Polym Sci 35(3):357–401

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ayub M, Zander AC, Huang DM, Howard CQ, Cazzolato BS (2018) Molecular dynamics simulations of acoustic absorption by a carbon nanotube. Phys Fluids 30(6):066101

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ayub M, Zander AC, Howard CQ, Cazzolato BS, Huang DM, Shanov VN, Alvarez NT (2017) Normal incidence acoustic absorption characteristics of a carbon nanotube forest. Appl Acoust 127:223–239

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bandarian M, Shojaei A, Rashidi AM (2011) Thermal, mechanical and acoustic damping properties of flexible open-cell polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotube foams: effect of surface functionality of nanotubes. Polym Int 60(3):475–482

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gu BE, Huang CY, Shen TH, Lee YL (2018) Effects of multiwall carbon nanotube addition on the corrosion resistance and underwater acoustic absorption properties of polyurethane coatings. Prog Org Coat 121:226–235

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Song Y, Chen H, Su Z, Chen X, Miao L, Zhang J, Cheng X, Zhang H (2017) Highly compressible integrated supercapacitor–piezoresistance-sensor system with CNT–PDMS sponge for health monitoring. Small 13(39):1702091

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pan J, Liu SY, Yang YC, Lu JG (2018) A highly sensitive resistive pressure sensor based on a carbon nanotube-liquid crystal-PDMS composite. Nanomaterials 8(6):413

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lu J, Lu M, Bermak A, Lee YK (2007) Study of piezoresistance effect of carbon nanotube-PDMS composite materials for nanosensors. In: 2007 7th IEEE NANO, pp 1240–1243

  26. Martinelli E, Suffredini M, Galli G, Glisenti A, Pettitt ME, Callow ME, Callow JA, Williams D, Lyall G (2011) Amphiphilic block copolymer/poly (dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) blends and nanocomposites for improved fouling-release. Biofouling 27(5):529–541

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Shetty HD, Patra A, Prasad V (2018) Polydimethylsiloxane-multiwalled carbon nanotube composite as a metamaterial. Mater Lett 210:309–313

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Chu K, Kim D, Sohn Y, Lee S, Moon C, Park S (2013) Electrical and thermal properties of carbon-nanotube composite for flexible electric heating-unit applications. IEEE Electron Device Lett 34(5):668–670

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sun X, Liu X, Shen X, Wu Y, Wang Z, Kim JK (2016) Graphene foam/carbon nanotube/poly (dimethyl siloxane) composites for exceptional microwave shielding. Compos A 85:199–206

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Verdejo R, Stämpfli R, Alvarez-Lainez M, Mourad S, Rodriguez-Perez MA, Brühwiler PA, Shaffer M (2009) Enhanced acoustic damping in flexible polyurethane foams filled with carbon nanotubes. Compos Sci Technol 69(10):1564–1569

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Willemsen AM, Rao MD (2015) Sound absorption characteristics of nanocomposite polyurethane foams infused with carbon nanotubes. Noise Control Eng J 63(5):424–438

    Google Scholar 

  32. Gao N, Zhang Y (2019) A low frequency underwater metastructure composed by helix metal and viscoelastic damping rubber. J Vib Control 25(3):538–548

    Google Scholar 

  33. Zuruzi AS, Haffiz TM, Affidah D, Amirul A, Norfatriah A, Nurmawati MH (2017) Towards wearable pressure sensors using multiwall carbon nanotube/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite foams. Mater Des 132:449–458

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Liu CX, Choi JW (2010) Strain-dependent resistance of PDMS and carbon nanotubes composite microstructures. IEEE Trans Nanotechnol 9(5):590–595

    Google Scholar 

  35. Liu CX, Choi JW (2012) Improved dispersion of carbon nanotubes in polymers at high concentrations. Nanomaterials 2(4):329–347

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Randhawa P, Park JS, Sharma S, Kumar P, Shin MS, Sekhon SS (2012) Effect of surfactant (Triton X-100) concentration on dispersion and functionalization of multiwall carbon nanotubes. Nanoelectron Optoelectron 7(3):279–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Van Dang B, Kim G, Kim SJ (2018) Anomalous pulse change in gravity-driven microfluidic oscillator and its application to photodiode switching. Microfluidics Nanofluidics 22(2):18

    Google Scholar 

  38. Schnyder B, Lippert T, Kötz R, Wokaun A, Graubner VM, Nuyken O (2003) UV-irradiation induced modification of PDMS films investigated by XPS and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Surf Sci 532:1067–1071

    Google Scholar 

  39. Mata A, Fleischman AJ, Roy S (2005) Characterization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) properties for biomedical micro/nanosystems. Biomed Microdevices 7(4):281–293

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. O'Connor JM, Pu L (1990) Surreptitious involvement of a metallacycle substituent in metal-mediated alkyne cleavage chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 112(24):9013–9015

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hong J, Lee J, Hong CK, Shim SE (2010) Effect of dispersion state of carbon nanotube on the thermal conductivity of poly (dimethyl siloxane) composites. Curr Appl Phys 10(1):359–363

    Google Scholar 

  42. Utsumi S, Honda H, Hattori Y, Kanoh H, Takahashi K, Sakai H, Abe M, Yudasaka M, Iijima S, Kaneko K (2007) Direct evidence on C−C single bonding in single-wall carbon nanohorn aggregates. J Phys Chem C 111(15):5572–5575

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Shimomura M, Okumoto H, Kaito A, Ueno K, Shen J, Ito K (1998) Infrared spectroscopic studies on the molecular orientation of vacuum-deposited thin films of poly (dimethylsilane) and a linear oligosilane. Macromolecules 31(21):7483–7487

    Google Scholar 

  44. Shahzad MI, Giorcelli M, Shahzad N, Guastella S, Castellino M, Jagdale P, Tagliaferro A (2013) Study of carbon nanotubes based polydimethylsiloxane composite films. J Phys Conf Ser 439(1):012010

    Google Scholar 

  45. Bokobza L, Buffeteau T, Desbat B (2000) Mid-and near-infrared investigation of molecular orientation in elastomeric networks. Appl Spectrosc 54(3):360–365

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Vatani H, Yazdi AS (2014) Ionic-liquid-mediated poly (dimethylsiloxane)-grafted carbon nanotube fiber prepared by the solgel technique for the head space solid-phase microextraction of methyl tert-butyl ether using GC. J Sep Sci 37(1–2):127–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Chua TP, Mariatti M, Azizan A, Rashid AA (2010) Effects of surface-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the properties of poly (dimethyl siloxane) nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 70(4):671–677

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Genovese A, Shanks RA (2008) Fire performance of poly (dimethyl siloxane) composites evaluated by cone calorimetry. Compos A 39(2):398–405

    Google Scholar 

  49. Auschra C, Eckstein E, Mühlebach A, Zink MO, Rime F (2002) Design of new pigment dispersants by controlled radical polymerization. Prog Org Coat 45(2–3):83–93

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Li Y, Liu Y, Zuo Y, Chi W, Liu B, Shen Z (2008) Effects of dispersants on dispersion of carbon nanotubes and properties of fluorocarbon resin nanocomposites. J Mater Sci 43(10):3738–3741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2617-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Verdejo R, Saiz-Arroyo C, Carretero-Gonzalez J, Barroso-Bujans F, Rodriguez-Perez MA, Lopez-Manchado MA (2008) Physical properties of silicone foams filled with carbon nanotubes and functionalized graphene sheets. Eur Polym J 44(9):2790–2797

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Moniruzzaman M, Winey KI (2006) Polymer nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes. Macromolecules 39(16):5194–5205

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Hassouneh SS, Yu L, Skov AL, Daugaard AE (2017) Soft and flexible conductive PDMS/MWCNT composites. J Appl Polym Sci 134(18):44767

    Google Scholar 

  54. Keefe DH, Ling R, Bulen JC (1992) Method to measure acoustic impedance and reflection coefficient. J Acoust Soc Am 91(1):470–485

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Yuan B, Jiang W, Jiang H, Chen M, Liu Y (2018) Underwater acoustic properties of graphene nanoplatelet-modified rubber. J Reinf Plast Compos 37(9):609–616

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Johnston ID, McCluskey DK, Tan CK, Tracey MC (2014) Mechanical characterization of bulk Sylgard 184 for microfluidics and microengineering. J Micromech Microeng 24(3):035017

    Google Scholar 

  57. Schneider F, Fellner T, Wilde J, Wallrabe U (2008) Mechanical properties of silicones for MEMS. J Micromech Microeng 18(6):065008

    Google Scholar 

  58. Salzbrenner J, Apblett C, Khraishi T (2013) Mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes surface-stamped on polydimethylsiloxane for microvalve actuation. Polym Int 62(4):608–615

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Mazlan N, Jaafar M, Aziz A, Ismail H, Busfield JJ (2016) Effects of different processing techniques on multi-walled carbon nanotubes/silicone rubber nanocomposite on tensile strength properties. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 152(1):012060

    Google Scholar 

  60. Ma PC, Siddiqui NA, Marom G, Kim JK (2010) Dispersion and functionalization of carbon nanotubes for polymer-based nanocomposites: a review. Compos A 41(10):1345–1367

    Google Scholar 

  61. Baird AM, Kerr FH, Townend DJ (1999) Wave propagation in a viscoelastic medium containing fluid-filled microspheres. J Acoust Soc Am 105(3):1527–1538

    Google Scholar 

  62. Allard J, Atalla N (2009) Propagation of sound in porous media: modelling sound absorbing materials, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  63. Koumoulos EP, Parousis T, Trompeta AF, Kartsonakis IA, Charitidis CA (2016) Investigation of MWCNT addition into poly-dimethylsiloxane-based coatings. Plast Rubber Compos 45(3):106–117

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Sperling LH (1990) Sound and vibration damping with polymers: Basic viscoelastic definitions and concepts. In: Sound and vibration damping with polymers. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, p 5–22

    Google Scholar 

  65. Frick B, Alba-Simionesco C, Dosseh G, Le Quellec C, Moreno AJ, Colmenero J, Schönhals A, Zorn R, Chrissopoulou K, Anastasiadis SH, Dalnoki-Veress K (2005) Inelastic neutron scattering for investigating the dynamics of confined glass-forming liquids. J Non-Cryst Solids 351(33–36):2657–2667

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Masui T, Kishimoto H, Kikuchi T, Ohira-Kawamura S, Inamura Y, Koga T, Nakajima K (2014) Quasielastic neutron scattering study on polymer nanocomposites. J Phys Conf Ser 502(1):012057

    Google Scholar 

  67. Jarzynski J (1990) Mechanisms of sound attenuation in materials. In: Sound and vibration damping with polymers. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, p 167–207

    Google Scholar 

  68. Basirjafari S, Malekfar R, Esmaielzadeh KS (2012) Low loading of carbon nanotubes to enhance acoustical properties of poly (ether) urethane foams. J Appl Phys 112(10):104312

    Google Scholar 

  69. Zhu B, Huang X (2012) Key techniques of submarine stealth: the design of the anechoic coating. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  70. Qui H, Enhui Y (2018) Effect of thickness, density and cavity depth on the sound absorption of wool boards. Autex Res J 18(2):203–208

    Google Scholar 

  71. Peng L, Song B, Wang J, Wang D (2014) Mechanic and acoustic properties of the sound-absorbing material made from natural fiber and polyester. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2015:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  72. Meng H, Wen J, Zhao H, Lv L, Wen X (2012) Analysis of absorption performances of anechoic layers with steel plate backing. J Acoust Soc Am 132(1):69–75

    Google Scholar 

  73. Zhao H, Wen J, Yang H, Lv L, Wen X (2014) Backing effects on the underwater acoustic absorption of a viscoelastic slab with locally resonant scatterers. Appl Acoust 76:48–51

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge access to the characterization facilities of the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facilities (AMMRF) node at UNSW Australia. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support received the funding from the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201606950016).

Funding

This project was not funded through a formalized research funding agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    I. I. Kabir, Y. Fu, J.-C. Baena, A. C. Y. Yuen, W. Yang, Z. Peng & G. H. Yeoh

  2. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW, 2232, Australia

    N. De Souza, J. Mata & G. H. Yeoh

Authors
  1. I. I. Kabir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. De Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J.-C. Baena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. C. Y. Yuen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. W. Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. Mata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Z. Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. G. H. Yeoh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. I. Kabir.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 14 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kabir, I.I., Fu, Y., De Souza, N. et al. PDMS/MWCNT nanocomposite films for underwater sound absorption applications. J Mater Sci 55, 5048–5063 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04349-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04349-4

Search

Navigation