Enhanced Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber Nanocomposites with Graphene Platelet Nano-powder

Nanocomposites are very important materials because it imparts superior properties than other composites with low level of filler loading. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is a non-polar rubber which acts as an insulator and has low electrical conductivity. Graphene platelet nano-powder from 0.1 to 1.25 phr level is incorporated into SBR rubber in order to improve the electrical properties. Comparative studies on electrical and mechanical properties of styrene butadiene rubber with graphene platelet nano-powder (GPN) by varying the filler content are made. The incorporation of Graphene platelet nano-powder increases the electrical conductivity in styrene butadiene rubber. It has been observed that there is a gradual increase in electrical conductivity by increasing the amount of nanofiller at higher frequency of about 100 kHz. The mechanical properties of styrene butadiene rubber are improved by the incorporation of Graphene platelet nano-powder. The effect of applied pressure and temperature on the volume resistivity and electrical conductivity of the composites is also investigated at a constant frequency of 100 kHz. The electrical properties of the SBR/GPN nanocomposites increases with increase in pressure and temperature up to a certain limit and then becomes constant.