Enhanced Interfacial Interactions of Isocyanate-Grafted Graphene Oxide/Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber Nanocomposites: mechanical and Thermo-Physical Properties

4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate-modified graphene oxide (GO) was fabricated (GO-NCO), and for the first time used to reinforce the nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) by using latex compounding approach. The modification process was verified by employing the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field-emission transmission electron microscopy. The morphologies of the fracture surfaces of the NBR and its nanocomposites were analyzed using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties, dynamic rheological properties and the thermophysical properties of the NBR/GO-NCO nanocomposites were compared and investigated. At same filler concentration, the NBR/GO-NCO nanocomposites exhibited the superior performances than the NBR/GO nanocomposites did. The NBR/GO-NCO exhibited the highest tensile strength of 8.3 MPa, which was almost 200% higher than that of the neat NBR composites. And the storage modulus continuously enhanced with the filler concentration attributing to the enhanced stiffness due to the GO-NCO in the rubber matrix. (C) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers