Improved interfacial interactions of modified graphene oxide/natural rubber composites with the low heat build‐up and good mechanical property for the green tire application

Abstract With the rapid development of transportation system, the safety, reliability, and durability of green tires play an important role in modern transportation. While for the material preparation, the poor dispersion ability of reinforced filler and the weak interfacial interactions with polymer matrix seriously restricted the further application in the green tire field. Meanwhile, avoiding the use of organic solvents is also an environmental issue that needs to be considered in the preparation process. Herein, water‐soluble 2‐mercapto‐1‐methylimidazole (MMI) functionalized graphene oxide (GO‐MMI) was obtained through a simple, green and one‐step hydrothermal method. Additionally, the modified graphene oxide/natural rubber composites (GO‐MMI/NR) with different GO‐MMI content were prepared by the latex coprecipitation approach. As a result, the modified GO‐MMI could be evenly dispersed in the NR matrix through the mechanical blending and the obtained GO‐MMI/NR composites possessed the good comprehensive properties after vulcanization. Specifically, the tensile strength (26.8 MPa), elongation at break (801%), low heat build‐up (6.2°C), Deutsches Institute for Normung (DIN) abrasion loss volume (71.31 mm3) and heat resistance index (162.1°C) were synchronic‐lifting when compared with the GO/NR composites. The results demonstrated that obtained GO‐MMI/NR composites owned the promising application for the industrial‐scale green tires.