Surface one-step modification of graphene oxide with N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfonamide to enhance the wear resistance of natural rubber/butadiene rubber composites

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) and butadiene rubber (BR) composites are frequently used in manufacturing tires and conveyor belts, which are susceptible to severe wear, leading to product failure and significant losses. To enhance the wear resistance of NR/BR composites, we prepared NR/BR composites reinforced with a synergy of N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfonamide surface one-step modified reduced graphene oxide (CZ-rGO) and carbon black N234 (CB) using a latex co-precipitation method. This study explored the effects of GO content and CZ modification on the structure, wear resistance, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties of the NR/BR blended composites. It showed that adding 2 phr of GO resulted in excellent filler dispersion, significantly improving the tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, thermal conductivity, and wear resistance of the composites. The incorporation of CZ-rGO further increased the crosslinking density, vulcanization performance, and filler dispersion with enhanced mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and wear resistance of the composites. Notably, the DIN abrasion volume was reduced to 77.88 mm³, surpassing the ISO 10247 standard for conveyor belt cover rubber in terms of wear resistance. The wear resistance of NR/BR/CZ-rGO composites is not only significantly higher than that of single NR- or SBR-based rubber composites, but also significantly higher than that of other binary rubber blend composites, and the CZ-rGO filler is simpler in composition and structure and exhibits a more prominent wear enhancement. This work provides guidance for an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to GO surface modification, as well as useful insights for the development of high wear-resistant rubber composites with excellent overall performance.