Non-Covalent Polymeric Wrapping of IGEPAL C0890 for Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs-C0890) Filled NR/EPDM Rubber Blend Nanocomposites

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) surface modification was performed by using a simplified dual-action of ultrasonication and high speed mechanical shearing. This approach induced a non-covalent polymeric wrapping interaction between GNPs surfaces with IGEPAL-C0890 (ethoxylated nonyl phenol with 40 moles ethylene oxide). Various characterization tools like FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM and TEM were utilized to confirm the success of the surface treatment. The efficacy and suitability of non-covalent treated GNPs-C0890 as nanofiller reinforcement and inorganic compatibilizer in NR/EPDM rubber blends were evaluated. Effects of GNPs-C0890 loading variation to the mechanical tensile properties and fracture morphologies of NR/EPDM nanocomposites rubber blend were studied. It is interesting to note that the GNPs-C0890 was not able to reinforce NR/EPDM blend at a higher loading addition (≥ 3.00 wt.%) due to the agglomeration and crosslinking retardation phenomena by phase separation. However, at a lower loading (≤ 1.00 wt.%), the blend strengthening effects promise the improvement at about 64.55% of tensile strength and 14.20% of elongation percentage as compared than unfilled NR/EPDM blend. Obvious fractured morphological changes due to the absence and presence of GNPs provide hints on the role of GNPs treatment in effecting the NR/EPDM rubber blend mechanical properties.

Effects of poly(ethyleneimine) adsorption on graphene nanoplatelets to the properties of NR/EPDM rubber blend nanocomposites

“…Previous examples of inorganic fillers are rice husk ash, silica [24,32], carbon black [16,20,[33][34][35], titania nanoparticles [22], organo-modified Cloisite nanoclay [19], and more. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are still limited references available for NR/EPDM rubber blend or other polymeric rubber blend nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets [36][37][38]. Thus, this study provides an initiative in reporting the preliminary findings of preparation and characterization for NR/EPDM rubber blend filled with GNP nanocomposites that focuses on the effects of GNPs loading variations and non-covalent surface treatment of GNPs.…”

Assessment of Mechanical and Electrical Performances of Polylactic Acid/Liquid Natural Rubber/Graphene Platelets Nanocomposites in the Light of Different Graphene Platelets Functionalization Routes

“…For GNP-u, the peak found at 1200-1300 cm −1 corresponds to C = O functional group which appeared as a consequence of using acidic medium to obtain intercalated GNPs from graphite. [39] This characteristic peak did not show up for both GNP-T and GNP-A, which indicates that the interaction between GNPs with TX-100 and GNPs with ADA have occurred through dehydration mechanism. [40] At around 2300-2400 cm −1 , GNP-T exhibits a new peak associated with O = C = O stretching vibration.…”

Vulcanization kinetics and reinforcement behaviour of natural rubber-carbon black composites: Addition of Shea-butter versus aromatic oil as plasticizers

“…A number of elastomeric matrices including; ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) [ 24 , 25 ], acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) [ 6 , 26 ], styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) [ [27] , [28] , [29] ], natural rubber (NR) [ 4 , [30] , [31] , [32] ] and their blends (NBR/EPDM [ [33] , [34] , [35] ], NR/EPDM [ 36 ] and NR/SBR [ 3 , 37 ] etc. ); have been tailored for property enhancements, by incorporating into them various kind of reinforcements [ 1 , 38 ].…”