Graphene-maleic anhydride-grafted-carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene-rubber nanocomposites

Ethylene-propylene grafted-maleic anhydride (EPR-g-MA) and a pure maleic anhydride (MA) were separately used to compound carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene-rubber (XNBR) together with reduced graphene oxide (G) to form nanocomposites, by using melt compounding technique. The G-sheets in the presence of MA (GA samples) or EPR-g-MA (GB samples) generally increased the physico-mechanical properties including; crosslinking density, tensile strength and thermal degradation resistance etc., when compared with sample without MA or EPR-g-MA (GAO) and the virgin matrix. For the thermal degradation resistance measured by the char residue (%), by using thermal gravimetric analysis technique; GA1 (0.1 ph G and 0.5 ph MA) was 106.4% > XNBR and 58% > GAO (0.1 ph G) while that of GB1 (0.1 ph G and 0.5 ph EPR-g-MA) was 60% > XNBR and 22.2% > GAO respectively. Although, homogeneous dispersions of the G -sheets assisted by MA or EPR-g-MA was a factor, but the strong bonding (covalent, hydrogen and physical entangle-ments) occurring in GA and GB was observed to be the main contributing factor for these property enhancements. Thus, these nanostructured materials have exhibited multifunctional capabilities and could be used for advanced applications including high temperature (heat sinks), flame retardants, and structural applications.

Automated summary

Ethylene-propylene grafted-maleic anhydride (EPR-g-MA) and pure maleic anhydride (MA) were used to compound carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene-rubber (XNBR) with reduced graphene oxide (G) to form nanocomposites using melt compounding technique. The addition of G-sheets in the presence of MA or EPR-g-MA improved the physico-mechanical properties and thermal degradation resistance. The strong bonding in the nanocomposites was found to be the main contributing factor for these property enhancements. The nanostructured materials have multifunctional capabilities and potential applications in high temperature, flame retardancy, and structural fields.