Compatibility and Physical Properties of Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene Block Copolymer/Graphene Nanocomposites

Abstract

The compatibility of graphene with styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS) was examined. The morphology of the SIS/graphene composite observed by optical microscopy and the electrical conductivity of the composite showed that the compatibility of graphene with polystyrene (PS) block is better than that with polyisoprene (PI) block. Thermal analysis showed that the graphene is distributed preferentially at PS block domain rather than at PI block domain. The graphene enhanced the modulus of matrix polymer drastically, however, elongation at break and toughness were reduced evidently.