EKOPRENATM AS A REINFORCEMENT MODIFIER FOR GRAPHENE OXIDE/CARBON BLACK FILLED NATURAL RUBBER

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) has emerged as a new layered carbon nanomaterial due to its outstanding strength. However, to disperse GO sheets into a nonpolar rubber matrix such as natural rubber is a challenge. In this study, EkoprenaTM or epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) was used as a reinforcement modifier for hybrid filler graphene oxide/carbon black (GO/CB) filled natural rubber (NR). Three grades of ENR containing different levels of epoxide functional group (eg. 50%, 60% and 75%) were used to investigate the effect of polar functionality on the reinforcing efficiency of graphene oxide in natural rubber. The study has shown that the incorporation of ENR was found to reduce filler-filler interaction and to improve technological properties. The epoxide functionality on natural rubber opens the possibility of interaction with graphene oxide as indicated by the significant changes in the Tg.  The  best  levels  of  reinforcement were  found  with  the  addition  of  ENR-60 as reinforcement modifier.

Keywords:   EkoprenaTM; epoxidised natural rubber; graphene oxide; natural rubber nanocomposite; reinforcement modifier.