Thermal and mechanical properties of reduced graphene oxide/polyurethane nanocomposite.
Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared without using solvent by in-situ polymerization. RGO was derived from microwave (MW) irradiation of graphite oxide (GO) powder prepared by a modified Hummer's method. A minimum amount of poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMEG) was added during the dispersion of RGO in a solvent to stabilize the graphene sheets and to prevent RGO from the restacking after the removal of the solvent. After the reaction of RGO with 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), we obtained the concentrate of RGO in MDI with a minimum amount of PTMEG. Our method facilitated the fine dispersion of RGO in PU elastomers and improved the interfacial strength between RGO and PU. With the incorporation of 2.0 wt% of RGO, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PU nanocomposites increased by 30% and 50%, respectively without sacrificing the elongation at break. It was found that the crystalline portion of hard segments of the PU was lowered by the RGO in the nanocomposites.
Pashupati
P
Pokharel
Dai Soo
DS
Lee
D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*
D010087:Oxides; D011140:Polyurethanes; D006108:Graphite