Green Fabrication of High-Performance, Lignosulfonate-Functionalized, and Reduced-Graphene Oxide Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Composites

The preparation of high-performance graphene/rubber composites by green compounding methods is one of the dominant trends in exploiting and extending the applications of graphene in the rubber industry. A novel strategy is demonstrated here for fabricating a functionalized reduced-graphene oxide (SRGO) aqueous dispersion employing sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) as the stabilizer and ascorbic acid as the reductant. Furthermore, the SRGO was introduced into a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) matrix via the green latex compounding method. As a result, SRGO/SBR composites not only had excellent tensile strength and flexibility but also exhibited considerable resistance to dynamic fatigue crack growth. The outstanding comprehensive performance of SRGO/SBR composites was ascribed to the SLS attached on the surface of SRGO by π-πinteractions, which improved the dispersibility of SRGO in the SBR matrix and enhanced interfacial interactions between the SRGO and SBR chains. This research provides a novel strategy for the preparation of rubber composites with remarkable strength and durability.