A Novel Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) Dispersant: Polyaryletherketones with Pendent Pyrene Groups

Abstract

AbstractPolyaryletherketones (PAEKs) with pendant pyrene groups are prepared and used to functionalize and disperse graphene nanoplates (GNPs). A variety of polymers with a range of pyrene contents are studied. A monomer with pyrene and two hydroxyl groups is designed and synthesized through the Suzuki reaction and used to prepare a series of pyrene‐functioned PAEKs (Py‐PAEKs) by copolymerization. Experiments demonstrate that Py‐PAEKs have not only excellent solubility, but also excellent mechanical properties and outstanding heat resistance. In the same treatment condition, the concentration of GNPs that are modified by Py‐PAEK with 40 molar percentage of pyrene (Py‐40) increases 88 times of the concentration of pure GNPs in NMP. In addition, adding 0.5% GNPs, which is functionalized by Py‐40 to PEEK resin, improves the flexural strength of polymer composite nearly 12% and while the tensile strength of these composites improves nearly 10% with a doubling of the strain at break.