The quantification of anisotropy in graphene/natural rubber nanocomposites: Evaluation of the aspect ratio, concentration, and crosslinking

In the processing of nanocomposites, high shear stresses at elevated temperatures orient two-dimensional nanoparticles like graphene. This orientation leads to anisotropic mechanical, thermal or barrier properties nanocomposite. anisotropy is addressed in this study by comparing graphene (few-layer graphene, FLG) with a nanoscaled carbon black (nCB) filler content 3 phr, varying vulcanization, and different FLG contents. Transmission electron microscopy gives insight into qualitative nanocomposite nCB. The storage moduli parallel normal reveal direction dependency reinforcement through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Dimensional swelling measurements show restriction expansion orientation, an increased orientation. vulcanization system crosslinking determine respective level property values, higher densities increase DMA resulting values up 2.9 for quantified factor. With increasing content, increases. A comparison results reveals as most suitable method determination anisotropy. Compared recent literature, presented induces anisotropy, leading reinforcing effects