Underwater acoustic properties of graphene nanoplatelet-modified rubber

A series of graphene nanoplatelet-modified acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber-based underwater acoustic absorbing materials were prepared. The dynamic mechanical properties, underwater sound absorption properties, differential scanning calorimetry, vulcanization property, and mechanical properties of graphene nanoplatelets/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber nanocomposites were studied theoretically and experimentally. The results indicated that graphene nanoplatelet-modifiedacrylonitrile- butadiene rubber-based underwater acoustic absorbing materials exhibited excellent damping and underwater sound absorption properties. The storage modulus (E') and loss modulus (E '') of graphene nanoplatelets/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber nanocomposites were increased significantly with increasing graphene nanoplatelets content. At a graphene nanoplatelets content of 25 phr, the E' and E '' at 15 degrees C improved by 1201 and 603%, respectively. The obvious improvement in E' and E '' were mainly attributed to the extremely high interfacial contact area between graphene nanoplatelets and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber chains and the ultrahigh mechanical properties of graphene nanoplatelets. The underwater sound absorption coefficient (alpha) was increased obviously as the graphene nanoplatelets were incorporated. The optimal a of the nanocomposites was achieved as the graphene nanoplatelets content was 10 phr, and the average value of alpha was improved from 0.35 to 0.73-an increase of nearly onefold. The notable improvement in a was due to the marked increase in damping properties and thermal conductivity of graphene nanoplatelets/ acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber nanocomposites. The merits of graphene nanoplatelet-modified underwater acoustic absorbing materials were higher damping, better underwater sound absorption, and better mechanical properties with unaffected density in comparison to other inorganic and rigid fillers or porous fillers.