This paper presents the results of a study of the strength and thermophysical properties of the composite material graphene nanoplatelets (GNP)–nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) (GNP@NBR). High-quality GNP were massively produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method. It was found that the introduction of GNP in concentrations up to 6 wt.% leads to an increase in tensile strength up to 62%, resistance to tearing up to 64% thermal conductivity up to 2. The use of GNP allowed increasing the maximum operating temperature of the NBR to 125℃. Also, GNP@NBR composite showed an exceptional improvement in antifriction properties – it drops more than twice the coefficient of friction on steel under loads to 500 Newtons.

The method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis has been employed to prepare 2D graphene structures (SHS-graphSHS procedure for carbonizing cyclic organic structures is a simple accessible method for making 2D graphene structures in practically needed amounts. The material obtained is designated as SHS-graphene. The study on starch carbonization product by combined complementary methods has shown the structure of SHS-graphene particles is similar to 2-3-layered graphene particles. The addition of graphene to NBR matrix results in the significant (to twice) enhancement of strength and thermal characteristics of composition material obtained, as compared to unfilled rubber.ene). A set of complementary methods (scanning electron microscopy, Raman microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis) evidenced 2-3-layer graphene structure of the substance obtained. SHS-graphene has been utilized to modify NBR and thereby markedly strengthen the polymer matrix.