Efficient natural rubber latex foam coated by rGO modified high density polyethylene for oil-water separation and electromagnetic shielding performance

The current research work demonstrates preparation and characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO)@ High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) aerogel coated Natural Rubber Latex foam (NRLF) with superhydrophobic and superoleophilic character, good sorption capacity for oil-water separation, high electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the same were studied. The coated NRLF was prepared by using a solution of rGO and HDPE in xylene solvent with cooling process to result into thermally induced phase separation of the graphene and Polyethylene molecular network. The rGO modified HDPE aerogel coated NRLF showed superhydrophobicity with static water contact angle > 150°. The rGO@HDPE aerogel coated NRLF with 2 wt% rGO has reached EMI SE value of 24 dB, meeting commercial requirements. The electrical conductivity, EMI SE and the hydrophobicity of the composites significantly improved after mixing rGO into HDPE sol. This prepared superhydrophobic NRLF with high electric conductivity may find attractive application in oil-water separation and EMI Shielding, which would also be economically favored option in the current scenario.