Effect of expanded graphite and modified graphite flakes on the physical and thermo-mechanical properties of styrene butadiene rubber/polybutadiene rubber (SBR/BR) blends

• Modified graphite flakes/carbon black filled SBR and SBR/BR blend were synthesized.
• Mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composites were widely studied.
• Composites with improved antiskid property and low rolling resistance were obtained.

The aim of the present research work is to develop expanded graphite (EG) and isocyanate modified graphite nanoplatelets (i-MG) filled SBR/BR blends, which can substitute natural rubber (NR) in some application areas. The present study investigated the effect of i-MG on the physical, mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of polybutadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and SBR/BR blends in the presence of carbon black (CB). Graphite sheets were modified to enhance its dispersion in the rubber matrices, which resulting in an improvement in the overall physical and mechanical properties of the rubber vulcanizates. Compounds based on 50:50 of BR and SBR with ∼3 wt% nanofillers with CB were fabricated by melt mixing. The morphology of the filled rubber blends was investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) analyses. The intercalated and delaminated structures of the nanofiller loaded rubber blends were observed. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the cryo-fractured surfaces of the rubber compounds showed more rough and tortuous pathway of the fractured surfaces compared to the fractured surfaces of the only CB loaded rubber composites. Filled rubber compounds exhibit increase in the ΔS (torque difference) value, reduced scorch and cure time compared to their respective controls. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) of the filled rubber compounds shows an increase in the storage modulus compared to the controls. Isocyanate modified graphite nanoplatelets (i-MG) containing rubber compounds in the presence of CB showed an increase in the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, hardness, abrasion resistance and thermal properties compared to the alone CB filled rubber vulcanizates.