Development of graphene oxide hybridized high-performance elastomeric nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and thermomechanical properties

Abstract

The use of graphene sheets as a reinforcing agent in polymeric nanocomposites is increasing owing to their exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) is used as the reinforcing material in natural rubber (NR)/GO elastomeric nanocomposites to enhance the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composites. NR/GO composites of different compositions were prepared through consecutive melt-mixing and two-roll mixing processes. Mechanical, thermomechanical, and thermal stability studies of the prepared composites were carried out in accordance with ASTM standards. The incorporation of only 5 wt.% GO in the NR elastomer led to a 72–76% improvement in the tensile strength of the NR/GO composites. Simultaneously, the viscoelastic properties, namely storage modulus ( E ′ ), loss modulus ( E ′′ ), and glass transition temperature ( T g ) of the composites improved, and thermal decomposition of the composites decreased because of excellent interaction between the polymeric networks of the elastomers and the GO sheets.