The preparation and properties of polystyrene/functionalized graphene nanocomposite foams using supercritical carbon dioxide |
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| Authors: | Chaoqun Li Guanghui Yang Hua Deng Ke Wang Qin Zhang Feng Chen Qiang Fu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, , Chengdu, 610065 People's Republic of China;2. College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, , Haikou, 570028 People's Republic of China |
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| Abstract: | In this work, polystyrene (PS)/functionalized graphene nanocomposite foams were prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide. Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG) and graphene oxide (GO) were incorporated into the PS. Subsequently, the nanocomposites were foamed with supercritical CO2. The morphology and properties of the nanocomposites and the nucleation efficiency of functionalized graphene in foaming PS are discussed. Compared with GO, TRG exhibited a higher nucleation efficiency and more effective cell expansion inhibition thanks to its larger surface area and better exfoliated structure. It is suggested that the factors that have a significant influence on the nucleation efficiency of TRG and GO originate from the differences in surface properties and chemical structure. Furthermore, PS/TRG nanocomposites and their nanocomposite foams also possess good electrical properties which enable them to be used as lightweight functional materials.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry |
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| Keywords: | supercritical microcellular foams nanocomposites graphene cell nucleation |
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