Effects of graphene oxide on surface energy, mechanical, damping and thermal properties of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber/petroleum resin blends

Abstract

The surface energy and damping properties of graphene oxide (G–O)/polymer composites were reported for the first time. G–O/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)/petroleum resin (PR) composites were prepared by the combination of solution-blending and two-roll mill mixing. SEM results demonstrate that G–O nanosheets were dispersed homogeneously in EPDM and EPDM/PR blends. Such good dispersion was preliminarily attributed to the matched surface energy as well as low interfacial energy of EPDM and G–O, which were determined by contact angle tests. The addition of 0.5 wt% G–O nanosheets increased the tensile modulus, tensile strength and elongation at the break of EPDM by more than 130%, 50% and 30%, respectively. G–O nanosheets containing composites were novel in improving the damping properties of EPDM(/PR). The thermogravimetric analysis tests show that G–O slightly changed the thermal stability of EPDM(/PR).