A facile approach to fabricate elastomer/graphene platelets nanocomposites

摘要

Graphene platelets (GnP) are new class of fillers in nanosize with high aspect ratio, high absolute strength with good compatibility to reinforce most polymers. In this study, we produce GnPs with a scalable and cost effective method using thermal shock followed by ultrasonication. AFM analysis shows that our GnPs consists of 3 - 4 layers since it has a thickness of 3.55 ± 0.32 nm. Thermally and electrically conductive elastomer/GnPs nanocomposites have been developed using melt compounding technique. The fabricated nanocomposites show high mechanical performance combined with good functional properties. At 24 vol% of GnP, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and tear strength improved by 230%, 506% and 445%, respectively with an increase of thermal conductivity by 240%. The percolation threshold of electrical conductivity was reported at 16.5 vol%.