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Mechanochemical Route to Functionalized Graphene and Carbon Nanofillers for Graphene/SBR Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Beckert Fabian,
Trenkle Stephanie,
Thomann Ralf,
Mülhaupt Rolf
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201400205
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , graphite , exfoliation joint , graphite oxide , natural rubber , composite material , surface modification , graphene oxide paper , ball mill , oxide , ultimate tensile strength , nanocomposite , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , metallurgy , engineering
Wet and dry milling of graphite represents a versatile one‐step process for fabricating functionalized graphene. Dry milling of graphite in a ball mill under argon and carbon dioxide enables efficient exfoliation of graphite combined with edge‐selective functionalization of the resulting graphene. With respect to its facile scale‐up and potential industrial applications, this process is far superior to the conventional routes towards functionalized graphene. Although the aspect ratio is much lower with respect to thermally reduced graphite oxide (TRGO), the addition of edge‐functionalized graphene to styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) enables the simultaneous improvement of tensile strength and elongation of break. Furthermore, this study evaluates morphology, thermal properties, formation of percolation networks, and swelling behavior, compared to TRGO filled SBR.