Properties of polyamide 6-graphene-composites produced and processed on industrial scale

Abstract

Controlling the assembly of graphene based nanosheets within a rubber matrix: Nanocomposite morphology probed by measuring gas permeation and dielectric properties AIP Conference Proceedings 1736, 020066 (2016) Abstract. The use of graphene as a filler in thermoplastics has already been investigated extensively. The mechanical properties as well as electrical and thermal conductivity of thermoplastics can be improved due to graphene. However, these studies were carried out in experimental scale, which allows a good dispersion of graphene because of a long residence time during melt mixing and because of the use of almost ideal graphene, which has a high specific surface and low number of layers. In this study the scientific findings are transferred into industrial practice. For that purpose, a corotating intermeshing twin screw extruder with limited residence time and limited shear energy input is used to produce graphene based polyamide 6 composites and short carbon fibre reinforced graphene based polyamide 6 composites. These composites are further processed by injection molding to produce specimens in order to determine the mechanical properties. In addition to the scale-up to industrial production, two types of graphene platelets are used, which are commercially available. This investigation reveals that the addition of 1 wt.-% commercially available graphene platelets to polyamide 6 improves Young´s modulus and tensile strength. Compared to pure polyamide 6 an improvement up to 20 % with regard to Young´s modulus and up to 15 % with regard to tensile strength can be achieved. The combination of short carbon fibre with graphene platelets in polyamide 6 enables an increase of Young´s modulus, which is higher than the additive effect.

Functionalised graphene effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of recycled PA6/PA6,6 blends

“…Previous work on assessing the shore hardness of polymer composites reported slight increase which was attributed to the high surface area and dispersion of the reinforcement phase. [48][49][50] Incorporating GNPs in polymeric materials have been seen to lead to an increase 35,51,52 and reduction 45,[53][54][55] in tensile properties. Yesildag et al 52 reported a 20% increase in tensile modulus when 1 wt% GNPs was added to PA6.…”

“…[48][49][50] Incorporating GNPs in polymeric materials have been seen to lead to an increase 35,51,52 and reduction 45,[53][54][55] in tensile properties. Yesildag et al 52 reported a 20% increase in tensile modulus when 1 wt% GNPs was added to PA6. The researchers claimed that further increase in graphene content does not significantly increase the modulus due to possible agglomeration.…”

Scalable fabrication of high‐performance graphene/polyamide 66 nanocomposites with controllable surface chemistry by melt compounding

“…There are various studies about the integration of graphene in polyamide matrix in the literature. For instance, Yesildag et al improved the Young's modulus up to 20% and tensile strength of the matrix up to 15% compared with neat PA6 by incorporating 1 wt% polar graphene into PA6 by using a co‐rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder but also stated that the Young's modulus did not increased with increasing graphene content due to the agglomeration of graphene 19 . Furthermore, Xu and Gao enhanced the tensile strength and Young's modulus of PA6 composites by 2.1 and 2.4 folds, respectively, by the addition of 0.1% graphene by in situ ring‐opening polymerization of PA6 20 …”

Graphene Polymer Composites: Review on Fabrication Method, Properties and Future Perspectives

“…Moreover, it has shown high mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. According to the report of Nafi Yesildag, et al, concerning the properties of polyamide 6-graphene composites, the Young's modulus and tensile strength were improved by the addition of 1 wt.% GP to PA, as compared to pure PA [56]. A study on the effect of graphene on crystallinity, electrical and thermal properties of polyamide 6 using melting compounding method was conducted by Hoor, Farzaneh Alirezaei, et al The results showed that the addition of graphene increased the thermal stability and electrical conductivity.…”