In-situ interfacial compatibilization via edge-sulfurated few layer graphene during the formation of crosslinked graphene-rubber nanocomposites

Herein, we report various physico-chemical approaches to probe the nature of the interface between few layers graphene (FLG) and carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) nanocomposites prepared through efficient blending of XNBR latex with an aqueous dispersion of FLG. The extent of physical interaction between FLG and XNBR was investigated using Lorentz–Park and Cunneen–Russell models. The chemical interface between FLG and sulfur crosslinked XNBR was studied using model reactions between sulfur and graphene in presence of zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (ZMBT). We propose that an edge sulfurated FLG is formed, which could chemically bond with XNBR during the vulcanization process. Density Functional Theory (DFT) was employed to unravel the mechanistic insights, which support this hypothesis and suggest a kinetically favorable sulfuration of both XNBR and FLG. The formation of a chemical bond between edge-FLG and XNBR through the proposed intermediacy of sulfurated FLG leads to the observed improvement in mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.