Tuning the curing behavior of fluoroelastomer (FKM) by incorporation of nitrogen doped graphene nanoribbons (CNx-GNRs)

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), obtained by different methods from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene, are attractive materials for polymer nanocomposites due to their considerably high interfacial area, as compared to CNTs. Consequently, a better adhesion with a polymer matrix is anticipated for GNRs. Also, surface modification of these nanofillers, such as nitrogen doping, is known to be an efficient method to improve their properties. In this work, fluoroelastomers (FKM) were used as the polymer matrix to host GNRs. Undoped and nitrogen doped GNRs were synthesized from the parent multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). MWCNT/FKM and GNR/FKM nanocomposites were prepared via a solution mixing/melt mixing protocol.