Graphene / hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber nanocomposites: Dispersion, curing, mechanical reinforcement, multifunctional filler

Elastomers are usually mechanically reinforced with high loadings of carbon black (CB) to achieve the properties demanded; high amounts of mineral flame retardants are used to fulfill fire safety requirements. In this study, multilayer graphene (MLG), a nanoparticle made of only 10 graphene sheets, is applied in low loadings, 3 parts per hundred rubber (phr) to reduce the total amount of filler or boost performance in hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR). In the HNBR/MLG nanocomposites, 3 phr MLG replaced 15 phr CB, 3 phr aluminum trihydroxide (ATH), or 15 phr CB + 3 phr ATH. The nanocomposites were prepared via master batch by ultrasonically assisted solution mixing and subsequent conventional two-roll milling. A comprehensive study is presented, illustrating the impact of MLG on curing and mechanical properties; e.g. replacing 2.5 phr ATH with 3 phr MLG increased the Young's modulus by over 60% and hardness by 10%, while improving flame retardancy, and reducing the total heat evolved by 10%. MLG is a multifunctional filler, as demonstrated by various enhancements in terms of the mechanical and flame retardancy properties of the rubber composites.