Using a green method to develop graphene oxide/elastomers nanocomposites with combination of high barrier and mechanical performance

Graphene oxide/carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (GO/XNBR) nanocomposites with high mechanical and gas barrier properties were fabricated by using a simple and environment-friendly latex co-coagulation method. The oxygen-containing groups attached to the surface of GO generate strong interactions with the XNBR chains through hydrogen bonding (H-bonding), as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results. The morphology of the nanocomposites was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which show highly exfoliated and uniform dispersion of GO sheets in the matrix. The tensile strength and tear strength of the nanocomposite with 1.9 vol% of GO increased by 357% and 117%, respectively, over those of the matrix. The gas permeability of the nanocomposite is significantly lower than that of the matrix. The high mechanical properties and low gas permeability of the nanocomposite are correlated to the homogeneous dispersion of the GO sheets and strong interfacial interactions, which facilitate the load transfer from XNBR to the GO sheets.