ABSTRACT
Compounds of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) with graphene nanoplatelets were prepared. Graphene with different specific surface areas (300, 500, and 750 m2/g) was used as a filler at 5, 10, and 15 phr loadings. NBR rubber compounds were vulcanized using a conventional sulfur-based cross-linking system. The effect of graphene nanoflakes concentrations as well as specific surface area on the vulcanization/curing kinetics, strain-stress behavior, cross-link density and UV stability of composites were investigated. The morphology of the graphene nanoplatelets and their dispersion in the elastomer matrix were estimated using scanning electron microscopy. Nitrile-butadiene rubbers showed significant improvement in mechanical properties even when a small amount of around 5 phr of graphene nanoplatelets was incorporated. It was also found that NBR filled with graphene exhibited enhanced UV stability in comparison to unfilled rubber material.
