Combined graphene and poly (butylene terephthalate)-block-poly (tetramethylene glycol) enhance the mechanical performance of polyamide-6

Abstract

Adding graphene to a polymer matrix is an effective way of fabricating advanced materials. Few-layer graphene (FLG)/polyamide-6 (PA6)/Poly (butylene terephthalate)-block-poly (tetramethylene glycol) (PBT-PTMG) ternary nanocomposites were prepared using an in situ polymerization extrusion method. Characterizations using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a good dispersion of graphene in the composite matrix. Under the synergistic effects of a nanofiller and an elastomer, the nanocomposites showed apparent improvements in both strength and toughness. When incorporating 0.5 wt% FLG and 10 wt% PBT-PTMG, the flexural strength, impact strength, and elongation at break increased by 45%, 217%, and 390%, respectively. The reinforcing and toughening mechanisms are discussed in detail. As this method combines both the advantages of in situ polymerization and extrusion technology, it is therefore suitable for commercial production, enabling the potential applications of polymer composites.