▎ 摘　　要

The structures of differently sized reduced graphene oxides (rGOs), the dispersion state, and the compatibility of rGO with silicone rubber (SR) are important impact factors on the properties of SR-rGO nanocomposites. To analyze the influence of the size of rGO on the properties of SR-based nanocomposites, three differently sized rGO sheets were introduced into SR to fabricate a series of SR-based nanocomposites. The SR-middle-sized reduced graphene oxide (MrGO) nanocomposites showed the best mechanical and thermal properties. Compared with the blank sample, the SR-MrGO nanocomposites presented remarkable two-fold and three-fold increases in the tensile modulus and strength values. The initial degradation temperature increased nearly 40 degrees C. In this study, we investigated the size effect of graphene on the thermal stability by examining the thermal degradation mechanism of the different SR-rGO nanocomposites in detail. Ultimately, this research may suggest a facile approach for improving the thermal stability of SR. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47034.