Effect of Amphiphilic Polymer Modified Graphene Surfactant on the Thermal,Viscoelastic and Tensile Properties of Nitrile Latex Nanocomposites

Carboxylated butadiene-nitrile latex (CBNL) elastomers possess several unique characteristics including excellent abrasion resistance and oil resistance. They are used in a wide variety of commercial and Defense applications. In this work, the effect of a newly developed graphene surfactant (GOS) on the thermal, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of vulcanized latex nanocomposites was studied. The latex was synthesized by emulsion polymerization and the vulcanized film without any filler had a tensile strength (TS) of 2.40?MPa and strain at break of 107%. Graphite filler (8?wt%) in combination with 2.6?wt% of GOS, added to the latex, increased the TS to 5.2?MPa and to 7.5?MPa with 10?wt% of the GOS, while the elongation at break was reduced to 48% and 30% for the latex nanocomposites, respectively. The vulcanized film without any graphite, but with 2.8?wt% of GOS had a TS of 7.8?MPa and a marginally increased elongation at break (88%), as compared to the graphite filled composites. The nanocomposites with graphite and GOS also showed higher damping characteristics, as indicated by the width of the tan δ peak, spanning over a broad temperature range of 100?°C for the sample with 2.6?wt% GOS and 8?wt% graphite. In summary, the work reports the development of potentially valuable damping materials from carboxylated nitrile latex using an amphiphilic polymer modified graphene surfactant in combination with graphite.