Abstract
The assessment of zinc oxide – reduced graphene oxide hybrid filler in natural rubber was carried out in this study. The modified Hummers’ method was used to prepare the graphene oxide (GO) from which the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was synthesized and hybridized with zinc oxide in a two-step process. The resulting ZnO/rGO hybrid filler was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The natural rubber/ZnO/rGO composites were produced by compounding based on formulations using a two-roll mill. The performance of the hybrid filler in the natural rubber composites was carried out by assessing the tensile properties, Hardness test, compression set, abrasion resistance and sorption properties in different solvents. The mechanical properties showed that NR/ZnO/rGO nanocomposite exhibited improved properties with tensile properties of 25.85 MPa, modulus at 100% elongation of 8.78 MPa. NR/ZnO/rGO composite showed the least elongation at break 445.51 %. The highest properties value was observed with NR/ZnO/rGO composite hardness 59.40 IRHD, Compression set 13.31%, abrasion resistance 45.84 mm3/rev; energy at break 6.29 N.mm2, and force at break 188.52 N. The results were attributed to the capacity of the ZnO particles to display as a ‘connect’, interfacing with the elastomer by means of electrostatic forces/hydrogen bonding with the rGO by a p–π stacking/electrostatic bond. The mole percent results of the solvents for the hybrid filled composite when compared with the control showed a critical sorption decrease by 41.67% for the kerosene, 4.44% for diesel, 50 % for PMS and water. This showed the capacity of the filled composites to resist solvent sorption and resultant chemical attack. The observed mechanical properties and sorption properties of the composite revealed the applicability of the material for packaging.
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