Functional graphene nanoplatelet reinforced epoxy resin and polystyrene-based block copolymer nanocomposite

Amine-functionalized graphene nanoplatelet (GNP-A) was reinforced in a blend matrix of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) and polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (PSPEB) via facile solution approach. Diaminodiphenylmethane was employed as hardener. According to SEM, inclusion of pristine GNP enhanced surface roughness, however, autumn leaf like pattern was observed in amine-functional nanocomposite. For 0.1 wt.% pristine GNP loading T_max was observed as 545°C, whereas GNP-A showed higher value (553°C). Glass transition temperature of amine-system was also higher (230°C) than pristine one (224°C). DGEBA/PSPEB/GNP-A 0.1 depicted semi-crystalline nature (12.6°and 19.8°). EMI shielding effectiveness of nanocomposite was sufficiently high i.e. ～18.87-20.15 dB.     

Effects of graphene nanoplatelets and graphene nanosheets on fracture toughness of epoxy nanocomposites

The effects of graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) on fracture toughness and tensile properties of epoxy resin have been studied. A new technique for synthesis of GPLs based on changing magnetic field is developed. The transmission‐electron microscopy and the Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the size and chemical structure of the synthesized graphene platelets. The critical stress intensity factor and tensile properties of epoxy matrix filled with GPL and GNS particles were measured. Influence of filler content, filler size and dispersion state was examined. It was found that the GPLs have greater impact on both fracture toughness and tensile strength of nanocomposites compared with the GNSs. For instance, fracture toughness increased by 39% using 0.5 wt% GPLs and 16% for 0.5 wt% GNSs.     

Influence of surfactant type on the dispersion state and properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced aluminium matrix nanocomposites

Graphene dispersion in aluminium matrix is a critical concern for the attainment of composite improved mechanical and tribological properties which hinders broad applications of Al nanocomposites. Herein, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) dispersion in Al matrix achieved by colloidal processing, i.e., combining sonication and surfactant dispersing aid. In this work, the performance of the two types of surfactant (anionic, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), and nonionic polymeric, ethyl cellulose (EC)) were evaluated for effective GNPs dispersion in a solvent and Al matrix. Surfactant assisted GNPs solvent dispersion characterized through sedimentation test and UV-vis spectroscopy to optimize surfactant concentration. Density, hardness, wear properties and microstructural characterizations of GNPs/Al powder and sintered discs were performed to gauge the effect of surfactant type. It was found that surfactant addition enhances dispersion ability of GNPs than neat GNPs but at low GNPs fractions. The results show that EC assisted GNPs/Al nanocomposites of 0.5 wt% GNPs concentration has shown an increase in hardness (31%) and reduce wear rate (98%). Whereas, 0.3 wt% SDBS assisted GNPs/Al nanocomposites shown maximal increases in hardness (18%) and reduce wear rate (98%) as compared to pure aluminium, respectively. Conclusively, it has been revealed that polymeric EC based surfactant GNPs owing to steric repulsion shows better dispersion effect resulting in high density and improved wear resistance and performed better than SDBS based surfactant GNPs in Al matrix.     

Analysis of structure characteristics in laminated graphene oxide nanocomposites using molecular dynamics simulation

The characteristics of laminated graphene oxide (LGO) nanocomposite, which are expected to be used for highly functional composites, are known to be related to its microstructure. In this study, we investigate the influences of hydrogen-bonding and cross-linked network structures on the initial stiffness and yield stress, using molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that each structure increases the mechanical properties, and the combination of these structures strengthens the properties. Moreover, we found that the physical origin of the enhancement is cross-linked networks that generate stretched polymers connecting graphene sheets. Our study concludes by suggesting an appropriate selection of materials for high-performance LGO nanocomposites.     

氧化石墨烯与甲基丙烯酸和烯丙基磺酸钠共聚物的制备与性能

通过氧化和超声波作用制备了氧化石墨烯(GO)纳米相片层分散液,再与甲基丙烯酸(MAA)和烯丙基磺酸钠(SAS)进行自由基共聚反应制备了氧化石墨烯与甲基丙烯酸和烯丙基磺酸钠的共聚物P(GOMAA-SAS),各组分的质量比为m(MAA)∶m(SAS)∶m(GO)=13∶6∶1。FT-IR检测结果表明GO与单体之间发生了共聚反应,AFM检测结果表明共聚物中GO片层的厚度为4 nm、长宽在5~10 nm范围。应用结果表明用10%的P(GO-MAA-SAS)鞣制皮革的收缩温度为84℃,GO的鞣制作用与GO的纳米效应和与胶原纤维的键合作用及其二者之间的协同作用有关,研究结果 GO纳米片层可以鞣制皮革并且GO的分散状态是影响鞣制效果的主要因素。     

Mussel-inspired block copolymer lithography for low surface energy materials of teflon, graphene, and gold

Mussel-inspired interfacial engineering is synergistically integrated with block copolymer (BCP) lithography for the surface nanopatterning of low surface energy substrate materials, including, Teflon, graphene, and gold. The image shows the Teflon nanowires and their excellent superhydrophobicity.     

石墨烯及其纳米复合材料的研究

石墨烯因其独特的结构和优异的性能,近年来已成为国内外研究的热点。简要介绍了石墨烯的制备方法,着重对石墨烯纳米复合材料的研究现状进行了综述。     

PS/PAN嵌段共聚物静电纺纳米纤维及其衍生物的吸附性

通过静电纺丝技术制备PS/PAN嵌段共聚物纳米纤维毡,主要研究制备过程中PS/PAN浓度、电压、收集距离等对PS/PAN纳米纤维形貌、尺寸的影响,分析静电纺PS/PAN纳米纤维毡及其水解衍生物对镍、铅离子和阳离子染料的吸附性。结果表明,合适电纺条件为PS/PAN嵌段共聚物浓度8%、电压20kV、收集距离10cm;PS/PAN嵌段共聚物纳米纤维毡水解衍生物对镍、铅离子和阳离子染料有较好的吸附性。     

超疏水石墨烯/甲醛-三聚氰胺-亚硫酸氢钠共聚物海绵的制备及其在油水分离中的应用

采用两步法合成了石墨烯（GE）改性的超疏水超亲油甲醛-三聚氰胺-亚硫酸氢钠（FMS）共聚物海绵,首先在FMS海绵基质上进行GE原位聚合,然后通过聚甲基苯基硅氧烷构筑超疏水结构。采用FTIR、SEM、TGA、光学接触角测量仪对海绵结构进行表征分析。结果表明,GE成功地修饰了FMS海绵,制备出的GE/FMS共聚物海绵的接触角达158.9°。将GE/FMS共聚物海绵用于油水分离,经20次对机油吸附-解吸附测定后仍能保持稳定的超疏水性质。改性后的GE/FMS海绵具有良好的可重复利用性且对油和有机溶剂具有高度选择吸收性,对氯仿和机油的吸收量分别达到自身质量的约125倍和90倍,对油或有机溶剂的回收率达到87%以上。进一步对油或有机溶剂与水的分离进行了应用模拟,结果表明:改性后的GE/FMS海绵可以高效快速地将油或有机溶剂从水中分离出来,对于投入生产及吸附应用具有实际意义。      

PA1212-b-PEG嵌段共聚物的组成对结晶和熔融行为的影响

研究以双端羧基尼龙1212为硬段,以双端氨基聚乙二醇为软段的聚酰胺-聚醚分嵌段共聚物的结晶行为。用偏光显微镜、差示扫描量热法研究了不同组成共聚物的结晶形态、熔融结晶温度的影响。PLM观察到共聚物的结晶形态随硬段分子量的增大趋于完善,软硬段相容性随软硬段分子量增大而变差;DSC扫描表明共聚物的熔融温度随着硬段分子量增大而增大,软硬段分子量较大时软硬段相容性较差。     

氧化石墨烯改性玄武岩纤维及其增强环氧树脂复合材料性能

为了改善玄武岩纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的界面性能,通过偶联剂对氧化石墨烯进行改性,并将改性后的氧化石墨烯引入到上浆剂中对玄武岩纤维进行表面涂覆改性,同时制备了氧化石墨烯-玄武岩纤维/环氧树脂复合材料.采用FTIR表征了氧化石墨烯的改性效果;运用SEM分析了改性上浆剂处理对玄武岩纤维表面及复合材料断口形貌的影响和作用机制.结果表明:偶联剂成功接枝到氧化石墨烯表面;玄武岩纤维经氧化石墨烯改性的上浆剂处理后,表面粗糙度及活性官能团含量增加,氧化石墨烯-玄武岩纤维/环氧树脂界面处的机械齿合作用及化学键合作用增强,界面黏结强度得到改善,玄武岩纤维的断裂强力提高了30.8%,氧化石墨烯-玄武岩纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的层间剪切强度提高了10.6%.     

Synergistic effects of micro-/nano-fillers on conductive and electromagnetic shielding properties of polypropylene nanocomposites

This study presents the synergistic effects of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) and carbon fibers (CFs) additions on the electrical and electromagnetic shielding properties of GNS/CF/polypropylene (PP) composites. These composites were fabricated by the melt blending of different ratios of GNSs and CFs (20:0, 15:5, 10:10, 5:15 and 0:20 wt/wt%) into a PP polymer matrix using a Brabender mixer. Besides, the chemical and crystalline structures and the thermal stability of the resultant GNS/CF/PP composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FT-IR and XRD showed that with the addition of GNSs content, transmittances at 1373.4?cm^?1 and 1454.4?cm^?1 became smaller and the characteristic peak at 26.82° became stronger. TGA showed that the GNS/CF/PP composite can be used at high temperature below 456°C. Blending 10?wt% CFs and 10?wt% GNSs into the PP polymer resulted in excellent conductivity (0.397 S/cm), which indicated the occurrence of the critical percolation threshold phenomenon, and also reached the maximum electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) of 20?dB at 1.28–2.00?GHz. Laminated with five layers of composites, its EMSE achieved 25–38?dB at 0.3–3.0?GHz, corresponding to blocking of 94.38–98.74% electromagnetic waves.     

Studies on preparation and properties of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/epoxy nanocomposites

The MWNTs were coated with polyaniline (PANI) by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization method. FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the MWNTs were coated with PANI. The MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites were fabricated by using the solution blending method. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile testing, HP 4294A impedance analyzer and SEM were used to investigate the properties of the nanocomposites. The results showed that the modified carbon nanotubes were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The nanocomposites have enhancements in mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties compare with the neat epoxy resin. The nanocomposites were proven to be a good polymer dielectric material.     

The effect of exfoliation and plasma application on the properties of continuous graphene oxide fiber

This study has been performed on continuous graphene oxide fiber produced by different production parameters which has very large potential application areas such as electronic/smart textiles, sensors, energy. In this study, three different graphene oxide dispersion preparation methods; namely, Modified Hummers, Modified Hummers on exfoliated graphite and Modified Hummers with plasma application; have been used to prepare coagulated continuous graphene oxide fibers. The effect of production parameters on properties of continuous graphene oxide fibers have been measured by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Photoelectron Microscopy (XPS), tensile tester, electrical conductivity device. It was observed that exfoliation process results with decrease of fiber Tex count, fiber surface roughness, oxygen functional groups and an increase of breaking strength and electrical conductivity, while plasma application results to an increase of surface roughness of fiber, oxygen functional groups and decrease of breaking strength of fiber.     

氧化石墨烯/聚乙烯醇复合材料的纳米压痕实验及力学性能

为了研究氧化石墨烯(GO)对聚合物基复合材料力学性能的影响,通过溶液混合法制备了GO/聚乙烯醇(PVA)复合材料。然后,采用XRD、TEM、FTIR、DSC和纳米压痕实验等研究了GO/PVA复合材料的结构、界面结合性能、力学性能、蠕变行为和吸水膨胀率。结果表明:GO可以均匀分散在PVA基体中,二者之间主要通过氢键作用结合,具有较高的界面结合力;与纯PVA相比,1wt% GO/PVA复合材料的硬度和有效弹性模量分别提高了28.9%和23.3%,压入蠕变深度下降了19.8%;GO/PVA复合材料具有较低的无限剪切模量与瞬时剪切模量比,表明GO提高了PVA的蠕变抗力;GO的添加同时增加了GO/PVA复合材料的阻水性并降低了膨胀系数。吸湿纳米压痕实验结果表明:纯PVA的力学性能会随吸湿时间延长而下降,而GO/PVA复合材料吸湿72h后的力学性能基本保持不变。所得结论为石墨烯增强聚合物基复合材料的研究提供了理论指导。      

氧化石墨烯/笼型聚倍半硅氧烷星型嵌段共聚物复合质子交换膜的制备与性能

通过共混的方法制备了含笼型聚倍半硅氧烷(POSS)星型拓扑结构嵌段共聚物的氧化石墨烯(GO)/笼型聚倍半硅氧烷-(聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯-共聚-磺化聚苯乙烯)(POSS-(PMMA₂₆-b-SPS₁₅₆)₈)复合质子交换膜。通过研究复合质子交换膜的离子交换容量(IEC)、质子传导率、吸水率与溶胀率,考察了GO含量对复合质子交换膜性能的影响。研究发现:复合质子交换膜的离子交换容量随GO含量的增加而升高,吸水率和溶胀率随着GO加入而降低,在测定温度范围内复合质子交换膜均表现出较高的尺寸稳定性,GO的添加改善了纯聚合物膜在80℃失水导致传导率下降的问题,提高了质子交换膜的质子传导率,发现在相对湿度为100%、80℃时,GO含量为0.3wt%的复合质子交换膜的质子传导率约为纯聚合物膜的3.2倍。      

Infrared thermography for void mapping of a graphene/epoxy composite and its full‐field thermal simulation

Important challenges are faced during the manufacturing of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)/polymer composites, associated with material quality and how to eliminate or reduce fabrication‐induced defects in the effort to improve performance. In the present work, infrared thermography (IRT) is used to measure void content and map void distribution, formed during fabrication of GNP/epoxy nanocomposites. Taking into consideration the size of each pixel (~100 μm), this method enables the non‐destructive detection of flaws with a size of approximately 200 μm. Their effect on thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite is studied by a 3D multiscale finite element analysis. Generic and full‐field comparisons demonstrate a good agreement between measurements and numerical predictions, validating assumptions and simplifications made in the proposed model.     

Roles of Ni/CNTs hybridization on rheological and mechanical properties of CNTs/epoxy nanocomposites

In this work, a nanoscaled Ni surface coating for multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) is proposed for the improvement of the interfacial properties between MWCNTs and epoxy resins in nanocomposites. The rheological behaviors and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated in a frequency sweep experiment with oscillatory rheometry and a universal test machine, respectively. The rheological behaviors of the nanocomposites proved the good dispersion behaviors of the Ni-coated MWCNTs in the matrix, demonstrating an increase in the suspension viscosity, G″, and G′, proving the high mechanical interfacial properties of the final composites.     

Influence of carbon nanotube concentration and sonication temperature on mechanical properties of HDPE/CNT nanocomposites

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were prepared by a melt mixing procedure. The mechanical properties were analyzed using a central composite design where key factors were CNT concentration and sonication temperature during the sample preparation process. The results indicated that the optimum values were 0.8 wt% for the concentration of CNT and 55°C for the sonication temperature. The samples obtained at optimal conditions were systematically studied. Nanoindentation analysis showed an increase of 43% in Vickers hardness of the nanocomposite when compared to pure polymer. The improvement on the mechanical property is related to changes in the thermo-physical and viscoelastic properties of the nanocomposite.     

Mechanical properties of graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites

In this present review, the current status of the intrinsic mechanical properties of the graphene-family of materials along with the preparation and properties of bulk graphene-based nanocomposites is thoroughly examined. The usefulness of Raman spectroscopy for the characterization and study of the mechanical properties of graphene flakes and their composites is clearly exhibited. Furthermore, the preparation strategies of bulk graphene-based nanocomposites are discussed and the mechanical properties of nanocomposites reported in the literature are analysed. In particular, through the analyse of several hundred literature papers on graphene composites, we have found a unique correlation between the filler modulus, derived from the rule of mixtures, and the composite matrix. This correlation is found to hold true across a wide range of polymer matrices and thus suggests that the common assumption that the filler modulus is independent of the matric is incorrect, explaining the apparent under performance of graphene in some systems. The presence of graphene even at very low loadings can provide significant reinforcement to the final material, while the parameters that affect the nanocomposite strongly are thoroughly reviewed. Finally, the potential applications and future perspectives are discussed with regard to scale up capabilities and possible developments of graphene-based nanocomposite materials.