Thermal behavior of thermoplastic polymer nanocomposites containing graphene nanoplatelets

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites filled with 5 wt % of two different kinds of commercially available graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were prepared. Composites materials were characterized in terms of thermal properties (thermal conductivity and thermal stability) in order to study the effect of different fillers within different thermoplastic matrices. The exfoliation process and the mechanical properties were also investigated. We chose three different thermoplastic polymers (polyolefin, copolymer and elastomer) to cover a wide range of thermoplastic materials and identify a guideline in the use of GNPs for nanocomposite materials. No drastic differences were observed in terms of mechanical properties when the same matrices were filled with different GNPs. Concerning thermal conductivity, it was observed that the GNPs plane dimensions play a crucial role in the increase of conductive properties. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44814.

Thermal, Mechanical, and dielectric properties of Injection Molded Graphene Nanocomposites Based on ABS/PC and ABS/PP Blends

“…Zhang et al observed that the tensile strength increased after the incorporation of 4 wt % GNPs and that the tensile strength was higher when the nanocomposites had prepared by the die with shunt plates indicating that the high shear stress exfoliated the GNPs effectively to a thinner layer. A significant increase in the Young's modulus by graphene nanoplatelets from around 1.3 GPa to over 2.0 GPa was reported by Ahmad et al and an increase of more than 380% of the Young's modulus by Caradonna et al . Song et al observed an increase of tensile strength and Young's modulus in PP nanocomposites containing 1 wt% PP‐coated graphene, due to the homogeneous dispersion of graphene nanosheets and the effective load transfer from the matrix to graphene, because of their strong interfacial adhesion.…”

“…Liang et al [56] found that T 5% (corresponds to 5% loss) of PP composites with three types of GNPs, with lateral dimension <10, 0.5-20, 10-50 μm, increased, respectively, from 407.2 to 408.3, 411.1 and 413.6 C and the values of the T p increased, respectively, from 454.2 to 454.6, 455.7, and 457.3 C. Moreover, GNPs improved the activation energy of PP composites, and the activation energy increased with increasing the GNP lateral dimension due to the increase of mass barrier effect [56]. According to Caradonna et al [57], the addition of 5 wt% graphene nanoplatelets to PP led to an increase of > 20 and 11 C of T 5 % and T 50% respectively. Yuan et al [27] interpreted the delay of thermal degradation of pure PP by the high thermal conductivity of graphene that allows it to act as "efficient heat sink", which dissipates the external heat effectively and uniformly and thereby avoids the accumulation of heat.…”

“…Moreover, GNPs improved the activation energy of PP composites, and the activation energy increased with increasing the GNP lateral dimension due to the increase of mass barrier effect . According to Caradonna et al , the addition of 5 wt% graphene nanoplatelets to PP led to an increase of > 20 and 11°C of T 5 % and T 50% respectively. Yuan et al interpreted the delay of thermal degradation of pure PP by the high thermal conductivity of graphene that allows it to act as “efficient heat sink”, which dissipates the external heat effectively and uniformly and thereby avoids the accumulation of heat.…”

“…Yuan et al [27] interpreted the delay of thermal degradation of pure PP by the high thermal conductivity of graphene that allows it to act as "efficient heat sink", which dissipates the external heat effectively and uniformly and thereby avoids the accumulation of heat. Tarani et al [58] found out that the decomposition in graphene/high density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites took place mainly via chain scission reaction, followed by β-scission propagation reactions, radical reactions and the termination process.…”

Enhanced properties of poly(styrene–b–ethylene–co–butylene–b–styrene) nanocomposites with in situ construction of interconnected graphene network

“…Increased thermal stability is typical for polymer‐layered nanocomposites, usually attributed to heat and mass barrier effects of layered nanocompounds, which delayed heat and pyrolysis products diffusion . The thermal stability of SEBS/GE nanocomposites is represented by TGA.…”