Preparation of EPDM/silicon nanofibers-graphene nanocomposites with enhanced interfacial structure: Highly reinforcing and stabilizing effect

Abstract

Aiming at designing enhanced interfacial structure, TA@SiNF/PGNs hybrids with hydrogen bonding and π-π conjugation were constructed through wrapping of polyrhodanine on graphene nanosheets (GNs) and self-polymerization of tannic acid (TA) onto SiNF surface. EPDM/TA@SiNF/PGNs nanocomposites were further prepared and the enhanced interfacial interactions were achieved, which promoted good dispersion of the hybrid nanofillers. Compared with EPDM, addition of TA@SiNF/PGNs resulted in a significant increase in mechanical strength and fracture toughness, and the mechanical strength of EPDM/TA@SiNF/PGNs was much better than EPDM/TA@SiNF or EPDM/PGNs due to the increased crosslinking density, indicating remarkably reinforcing and toughening effect of TA@SiNF/PGNs. In addition, the lower compression set and higher contact stress relaxation coefficient were achieved, revealing an improvement of compressive resilience. Moreover, TA@SiNF/PGNs effectively slowed down the deterioration of mechanical properties after thermo-oxidative aging, and the higher retention of crosslinking density and prolonged oxidation induction time confirmed the excellent stabilization effect of TA@SiNF/PGNs.