Development of graphene oxide hybridized high-performance elastomeric nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and thermomechanical properties

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The use of graphene sheets as a reinforcing agent in polymeric nanocomposites is increasing owing to their exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) is used as the reinforcing material in natural rubber (NR)/GO elastomeric nanocomposites to enhance the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composites. NR/GO composites of different compositions were prepared through consecutive melt-mixing and two-roll mixing processes. Mechanical, thermomechanical, and thermal stability studies of the prepared composites were carried out in accordance with ASTM standards. The incorporation of only 5 wt.% GO in the NR elastomer led to a 72–76% improvement in the tensile strength of the NR/GO composites. Simultaneously, the viscoelastic properties, namely storage modulus (E ′), loss modulus (E ′′), and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composites improved, and thermal decomposition of the composites decreased because of excellent interaction between the polymeric networks of the elastomers and the GO sheets.