Synergistic effects of rubber band infused graphene nanocomposite on morphology, spectral, and dynamic mechanical properties

Abstract Rubber band/graphene (RBG) nanocomposites are formed by infusing graphene nanosheet into a rubber band (RB) and subsequently evaporating the solvent. The RB was first pretreated by soaking in toluene solvent in a mild sonication for 3 h before the swollen RB was immersed in graphene dispersion for different time periods of 12 and 20 h. Employing this technique, graphene nanosheets will be attached in the RB matrix to increase the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites. The peaks shifting of RBG composites noted from Fourier‐transform infrared and Raman analyses due to the stress transfer that indicates reinforcement of the graphene nanosheet. Also, dynamic mechanical testing is most useful for studying the viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposites, which exhibits increasing storage modulus in the following order, RB < RBG‐12h < RBG‐20h and higher shifting of tan δ peak temperature for RBG‐12h and RBG‐20h. The main factor is due to the introduction of graphene content in the RB matrix. The improvement of RB/graphene composite in terms of their mechanical, electrical, and structural properties demonstrated promising candidates for low heat build‐up materials, improved wear resistance and thermal stability, increase significant gas impermeability, and electricity conductivity.