Compatibilization of natural rubber/high density polyethylene thermoplastic vulcanizate with graphene oxide through ultrasonically assisted latex mixing

Abstract

AbstractNatural rubber (NR)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) thermoplastic vulcanizate was compatibilized with graphene oxide (GO) by an ultrasonically assisted latex mixing process (ULM). GO was dispersed into NR latex by ultrasonic irradiation and followed by latex coagulation to obtain the NR/GO master‐batch, which was further mixed and diluted with HDPE and NR via a dynamic vulcanization process to obtain the NR/HDPE/GO hybrid composites. It was found that the stacked GO platelets were successfully exfoliated by the ULM process and have good compatibilization efficiency for the immiscible NR and HDPE. A smaller discrete NR domain was observed in NR/HDPE blend in the presence of the GO. Moreover, the stacked GO platelets enhance the interfacial adhesion and phase compatibility, which results in an increase in mechanical property of NR/HDPE blends. Compared to the NR/HDPE blend, the tensile strength and tensile modulus at 300% strain for NR/HDPE/ (1.5 phr) GO blend were increased by ∼ 27% and ∼ 24%, respectively. The exfoliated GO can act as both the effective reinforcing filler and compatibilizer in the immiscible NR/HDPE blend. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013