Reinforcement of graphene in natural rubber nanocomposite

In the present work, we report the use of graphene as multi-functional nanofiller for natural rubber (NR). Dispersion of reduced graphene into natural rubber (NR) was found to enhance the mechanical and electrical properties of NR. Through a facile approach rubber molecules are successfully grafted onto the surface of graphene. Stable graphene suspension with NR afforded a weblike morphology consisting of platelet networks between the rubber particles, while internal mixer processing broke down this structure, yielding a homogeneous and improved dispersion. The resulting graphene can be dispersed in NR via dry mixing. It is found that graphene is prominent in improving the mechanical properties of NR at low filler loading. The percolation point of graphene in the nanocomposites takes place at a content of less than 0.1 wt%. With incorporation of as low as 0.1 wt% of graphene, an increase in the tensile strength and improvement in the tensile modulus achieved. The improvement in the mechanical properties o...