Grapheme Nanoplatelets-Filled NR/EPDM Rubber Blend: Effects of GNPs Loading on Blend Process ability, Mechanical Properties and Fracture Morphology

摘要

In this report, the effects of GNPs loading to NR/EPDM rubber blends processability, mechanical properties and fracture morphologies were evaluated. The processability of the blend was tested by the cure characteristic studies, while the reinforcing effects by GNPs were evaluated through the mechanical testing results and microscopy observation. The increase in GNPs loading promoted the processability of NR/EPDM blend by increasing the cure rate index and decreased the maximum moulding time, tc_(90). In addition, the maximum GNPs loading at 3.00 wt.% improved the tensile strength about two-fold, with the percentage of elongation of each sample into 87.63% and 36.94% increment compared to the unfilled blend. These indicated the possibility of GNPs to perform its function as the reinforced and elasticity agent when incorporated with NR/EPDM blends. The modulus at various percentages of elongation and Shore A hardness value possessed linear increasing pattern aligned with the increasing of GNPs loading. Fracture morphologies of NR/EPDM rubber blend-filled GNPs nanocomposites were entirely affected by the presence and absence of GNPs. In general, the utilization of untreated GNPs at even low filler loading provides higher possibility of GNPs reinforcement effects in the NR/EPDM blends with distinct fracture of morphological changes.