Effects of poly(ethyleneimine)adsorption on graphene nanoplatelets to the properties of NR/EPDM rubber blend nanocomposites

• Main Authors: Abd Razak, Jeefferie, Haji Ahmad, Sahrim, Thevy Ratnam, Chantara, Mahamood, Mazlin Aida, Mohamad, Noraiham
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2015
• Subjects: TS Manufactures; TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery; QD Chemistry; QC Physics
• Online Access: http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/14674/1/Online_JMSC_-_Jeefferie_Bin_Abd_Razak.pdf; http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/14674/; http://www.springer.com/materials/journal/10853
• Institution: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

The facile approach of non-covalent surface treatment utilizing poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) polymer was applied to modify graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The effects of surface modification and various GNPs–PEI loadings to cure characteristic, mechanical, physical, and morphological properties of natural rubber (NR)/ethylene– propylene–diene–monomer (EPDM) blend nanocomposites were studied and compared to the unfilled NR/EPDM blend and blends filled with unmodified GNPs at similar loadings. We found that the modification of GNPs surface significantly influences the properties of NR/EPDM blends. The addition of GNPs significantly improved the blend’s processability, offering approximately a 104.30 % increase in tensile strength obtained with the addition of 5.00 wt% GNPs–PEI. A reduced swelling index of Qf/Qg in parallel with an increase in modified GNPs–PEI content revealed enhancements in terms of rubber–filler interactions between the NR/EPDM matrix and GNPs. These findings were further supported by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, and fracture morphology by scanning electron microscope.