Flexible conductive gasket based on Eucommia ulmoides gum and carbon fillers

Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) is an eco-friendly and biodegradable novel polymer having the characteristics of both rubber and plastic, which shows excellent potential for conductive gasket material. A flexible, lightweight, and biodegradable EUG-based/carbon fillers composite was prepared via the hot pressing. The obtained composite demonstrates the advantageous properties, including preferable mechanical performance, thermal stability, thermal and electrical conductivity. Notably, the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite exhibits preferable stability under several physical and chemical damages. Moreover, the EP/r3.8-C19.2 film delivers the average electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 21.2 dB, which is further enhanced by increasing the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) content and film thickness. Considering the increased abuse of nondegradable polymers, this green, degradable, facile, and low-cost strategy opens an alternative route for conductive gaskets, facilitating the practical application of EUG.

Automated summary

Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) is an eco-friendly and biodegradable novel polymer with properties of both rubber and plastic, showing excellent potential for conductive gasket material. A flexible, lightweight, and biodegradable composite was prepared via hot pressing, exhibiting advantageous properties such as mechanical performance, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity. The EUG-based composite also showed stable electrical conductivity under various physical and chemical damages, with increased effectiveness in electromagnetic interference shielding through higher carbon nanotubes content and film thickness. This green, degradable, and cost-effective strategy provides an alternative route for conductive gaskets amidst the growing misuse of nondegradable polymers, promoting the practical application of Eucommia ulmoides gum.