Excellent gas barrier property of reduced graphene oxide/nitrile butadiene rubber composite film with high reduced graphene oxide content

A reduced graphene oxide/nitrile butadiene rubber (rGO/NBR) composite membrane with high rGO content is prepared by combining electrostatic self-assembly and the vacuum filter method for application in gas barrier. In this process, GO induced the formation of chemical cross-links in NBR in the absence of vulcanization additives, which increased the cross-link density of the rGO/NBR composite film, and at the same time enhanced the interfacial interactions between the rGO and NBR matrix. The rGO/NBR composite film possesses an intra-layer isolation network and an inter-layer orientation structure. The resultant rGO/NBR composites with 40 wt% rGO loading exhibit a dramatically low gas permeability coefficient of 5.87 x 10-17 cm3cm/cm2 s1Pa1, which is reduced by 96.5% compared to the pure NBR. Furthermore, the gas barrier performance of the rGO/NBR composite membrane exhibits favorable thermal stability, in which the permeability coefficient changes very little at 65 degrees C. These good performances are attributed to the dual network structure and strong interface interaction of the rGO/NBR composites. This work provides a new insight into the design and preparation of rGO/rubber composites with high rGO content for various applications.Highlights A high-performance rGO/NBR composite with high rGO content was prepared. It shows a dramatically low gas permeability coefficient. It exhibits good thermal stability for gas barrier properties.