title: Largely enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites via incorporating C60@graphene nanocarbon hybrid.
abstract: Although considerable progress has been achieved to create advanced polymer nanocomposites using nanocarbons including fullerene (C60) and graphene, it remains a major challenge to effectively disperse them in a polymer matrix and to fully exert their extraordinary properties. Here we report a novel approach to fabricate the C60@graphene nanocarbon hybrid (C60: ~47.9 wt%, graphene: ~35.1%) via three-step reactions. The presence of C60 on a graphene sheet surface can effectively prevent the aggregation of the latter which in turn helps the dispersion of the former in a polymer matrix during melt-processing. C60@graphene is found to be uniformly dispersed in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. Compared with pristine C60 or graphene, C60@graphene further improves the thermal stability and mechanical properties of PP. The incorporation of 2.0 wt% C60@graphene (relative to PP) can remarkably increase the initial degradation temperature by around 59 ° C and simultaneously enhance the tensile strength and Young's modulus by 67% and 76%, respectively, all of which are higher than those of corresponding PP/C60 (graphene) nanocomposites. These significant performance improvements are mainly due to the free-radical-trapping effect of C60, and the thermal barrier and reinforcing effects of graphene nanosheets as well as the effective stress load transfer. This work provides a new methodology to design multifunctional nanohybrids for creating advanced materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, People's Republic of China. Polymers Research Group, Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Locked Bag 2000, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia.
authors.forename: Ping'an
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guobo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Youming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qipeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo