Probing the Damping Property of Three-Dimensional Graphene Aerogels in Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber/Polyurethane Blend

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel (GA) with a spatial porous structure and network skeleton was facilely prepared via one-step self-assembly hydrothermal reduction. Such network structure is regarded as a critical advantage in resolving the dispersion of graphene in polymer matrix, thereby enhancing the damping property. Here, as-prepared GA was added to the carboxylated butadiene nitrile rubber/polyurethane blend (XNBR/PU) by melting/mechanical complex method. Their dynamic mechanical properties were investigated in detail, and the relationship between thermal aging and dynamic mechanical properties had also been studied. Finding that the storage modulus and loss modulus of XNBR/PU were continually improved with the increase in addition amount of high-performance GA, reaching 3,219 and 316MPa with the content of 3 wt% GA, respectively. Loss factor (tan delta) of XNBR/PU with GA shows two sets of maximum values (0.22 and 0.61) at around -25 and 0.6 degrees C, respectively. Results illustrate that GA can greatly improve the damping performance, damping temperature range, mechanical properties, and thermal aging resistance of XNBR/PU blend, mainly depending on the performance characteristics of GA and interface interaction between GA and XNBR/PU. Verifying that GA with 3D network structure holds a great prospect for damping materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2019. (c) 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers