Bio-elastomer nanocomposites reinforced with surface-modified graphene oxide prepared via in situ coordination polymerization (original) (raw)

Processing of Graphene/Elastomer Nanocomposites: A Minireview

IntechOpen eBooks, 2022

Since the isolation and identification of graphene, the academic and industrial communities are utilizing its superior properties. This minireview deals with the processing of graphene-based fillers/elastomer nanocomposites. The incorporation of graphene in an elastomeric matrices has significant effects on the properties of nanocomposites. The dispersion of graphene in elastomers is discussed. The processing of graphene/elastomer nanocomposites is discussed. The mechanical properties of the elastomeric matrix can be enhanced due to the presence of graphene. In this review and due to space limitations, we will present an example of improvements in the mechanical characteristics of graphene/styrene-butadiene (SBR) elastomer nanocomposites.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) Elastomers and Their Graphene Nanocomposites∥

Macromolecules, 2014

Medium-chain-length poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAmcl) are biodegradable and renewable biopolymers with elastomeric qualities. Here we report on the preparation and characterization of composite materials using thermally reduced graphene (TRG) nanoparticles as filler with three PHAmcl polymers. The matrices vary with respect to chain packing length, capacity for noncovalent bonding with the TRG surface, and the presence of covalent cross-linking. Results show that the addition of up to 2.5 vol % TRG to PHAmcl increases the melting temperature by 1−3 °C, the modulus by 200−590%, and the electrical conductivity by >7 orders of magnitude. Additionally, we use rheology and microscopy to characterize the composites. We discuss our results in light of polymer entanglement theory and the effects of polymer structure, filler loading volume, and the role of graphene-polymer interfacial forces. We extend our discussion by comparing the modulus enhancements of PHAmcl composites to those reported in other studies in which layered carbon nanofillers are combined with structurally related biopolyesters including: polylactide, polylactide-co-polyglycolide, polycaprolactone, and two other PHA copolymers.

Multifunctional elastomer nanocomposites with functionalized graphene single sheets

Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 2012

We demonstrate the use of functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) as multifunctional nanofillers to improve mechanical properties, lower gas permeability, and impart electrical conductivity for several distinct elastomers. FGS consists mainly of single sheets of crumbled graphene containing oxygen functional groups and is produced by the thermal exfoliation of oxidized graphite (GO). The present investigation includes composites of FGS and three elastomers: natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). All of these elastomers show similar and significant improvements in mechanical properties with FGS, indicating that the mechanism of property improvement is inherent to the FGS and not simply a function of chemical crosslinking.

Perspectives in biopolymer/graphene-based composite application: Advances, challenges, and recommendations

Nanotechnology Reviews

Graphene-based materials are widely applied due to their interesting physical and chemical properties, but their hydrophobic surface and toxicity to living creatures limit their application in some fields. Biopolymers are incorporated with graphene-based materials to overcome these issues and improve their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ecological friendliness, and the synergetic effect enhances other properties as well. These properties make graphene-based materials a novel subject of interest in science and industry. In this study, the various applications of developed biopolymer/graphene-based composites are broadly addressed, and recent progress in the field is emphasized. Modification, stability, and compatibility are among the key merits for developing highly advanced composites with desirable properties. The major challenges and some recommendations in various applications based on reviewed studies are covered. However, the development of environmentally friendly, lo...

Recent Advances in Fabrication and Characterization of Graphene-Polymer Nanocomposites

Graphene has attracted considerable interest over recent years due to its intrinsic mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Incorporation of small quantity of graphene fillers into polymer can create novel nanocomposites with improved structural and functional properties. This review introduced the recent progress in fabrication, properties and potential applications of graphene-polymer composites. Recent research clearly confirmed that graphene-polymer nanocomposites are promising materials with applications ranging from transportation, biomedical systems, sensors, electrodes for solar cells and electromagnetic interference. In addition to graphene-polymer nanocomposites, this article also introduced the synergistic effects of hybrid graphene-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the properties of composites. Finally, some technical problems associated with the development of these nanocomposites are discussed. D. GALPAYA ET AL. 31 the 90% transmittance group is 8.5, 5.0, 2.9 and 8.1 nm from left to right. The corresponding thickness averages are 55.3, 30.9, 66.9 nm for the films in the 30% transmittance group. Reprinted with the permission from reference [29].

Recent progress in graphene based polymer nanocomposites

Cogent Chemistry

This paper reviews recent progress in the fabrication of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites and their applications. The modification of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and the utilization of these materials in the fabrication of nanocomposites with different polymer matrixes have been explored. The methods for surface modification of Graphene with polymers, including various covalent and non-covalent techniques, are discussed in detail. Series of effective processing routes for producing high-quality G-polymer nanocomposites, such as melt compounding, solution blending, in situ polymerization, latex mixing, and electropolymerization, are introduced and discussed. Various organic polymers have been used to fabricate graphene-filled polymer nanocomposites using different methods. Different characterisation methods and applications of these polymer composites were reviewed.

Research Updates on Graphene Oxide-Based Polymeric Nanocomposites

Graphene oxide (GO) is a carbon-based material, which is one atom thick sheet of graphite. The nanofillers have exceptional stiffness and strength owing to the presence of two-dimensional graphene backbone. Especially owing to this reason, nanocomposites have been developed using GO for several applications. This review article explores the synthesis of GO from flake graphite. Main emphasis has been afforded on the preparation and characterization of GO nanocomposites, utilizing various industrial polymers for wide application in aerospace, biomedical, military, supercapacitors, electrical, sensor, and so on. Morphological characterization exploring the interaction and extent of dispersion of GO nanosheets in the polymer matrices is extensively accounted. From the reports, it is clear that exfoliation and strong interaction of GO tremendously improved the physical, mechanical, thermal, electrochemical, biocompatibility, and tribological properties of the added polymer.

Elastomeric Nanocomposite Based on Exfoliated Graphene Oxide and Its Characteristics without Vulcanization

Journal of Nanomaterials, 2017

Rubber nanocomposites have emerged as one of the advanced materials in recent years. The aim of this work was to homogeneously disperse graphene oxide (GO) sheets into Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) and investigate the characteristics of GO/NBR nanocomposite without vulcanization. A suitable solvent was found to dissolve dry NBR while GO was exfoliated completely in an aqueous base solution using sonication. GO was dispersed into NBR at different loadings by solution mixing to produce unvulcanized GO/NBR nanocomposites. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the samples. Furthermore, mechanical and electrical properties of unvulcanized GO/NBR nanocomposites were carried out to determine the influence of GO on the NBR properties. The results showed that the modulus of GO/NBR nanocomposite at 1 wt% of GO was enhanced by about 238% compared with unfilled NBR. These results provide insight...

Elastomer based nanocomposites with reduced graphene oxide nanofillers allow for enhanced tensile and electrical properties

Journal of Polymer Research, 2020

Here, flexible nanocomposites based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and commercial elastomers such as poly (acrylonitrileran-butadiene) (PANB) and poly (styrene-block-isoprene-block-styrene) (SIS) have been developed with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties due to the RGO fine dispersion. The RGO incorporation via stepwise addition resulted in well-dispersed RGO platelets in all polymer matrices. This allowed us to attain a comparatively low percolation threshold concentration (4.2 wt.% for all nanocomposites), at which the conductivity and current flow through the nanocomposites appreciably increased. The nanocomposite conductivity further increased with the increase of the RGO loading independently of the polymer type (PANB or SIS) or PANB molecular weight and acrylonitrile content. The highest conductivities obtained in this work are in the range 7.5-8.0 × 10-5 S/cm. Mechanical properties measured for SIS and PANB nanocomposites showed that tensile strength increases (in the case of SIS, by a factor of three) with the increase of the RGO content most likely due to physical crosslinking of the polymer with RGO. Improved electrical and mechanical properties of these nanocomposites make them promising as microwave absorbers or antistatic coatings.

Graphene-polymer nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2017

Despite the significant efforts in the synthesis of new polymers, the mechanical properties of polymer matrices can be considered modest in most cases, which limits their application in demanding areas. The isolation of graphene and evaluation of its outstanding properties, such as high thermal conductivity, superior mechanical properties, and high electronic transport, have attracted academic and industrial interest, and opened good perspectives for the integration of graphene as a filler in polymer matrices to form advanced multifunctional composites. Graphene-based nanomaterials have prompted the development of flexible nanocomposites for emerging applications that require superior mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and chemical performance. These multifunctional nanocomposites may be tailored to synergistically combine the characteristics of both components if proper structural and interfacial organization is achieved. The investigations carried out in this aim have combined graphene with different polymers, leading to a variety of graphene-based nanocomposites. The extensive research on graphene and its functionalization, as well as polymer graphene composites, aiming at applications in the biomedical field, are reviewed in this paper. An overview of the polymer matrices adequate for the biomedical area and the production techniques of graphene composites is presented. Finally, the applications of such nanocomposites in the biomedical field, particularly in drug delivery, wound healing, and biosensing, are discussed.