Abstract

AbstractThe effect of three kinds of graphitic fillers with distinct morphologies, natural graphite sheets (NGs), chemically reduced graphite oxide sheets (CRGs) and thermally reduced graphite oxide sheets (TRGs), on the crystallization, rheological behavior and mechanical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)‐based composites has been investigated comparatively. NGs exhibit smooth surface and multilayer‐stacked structure; most CRGs are in the form of aggregates that are restacked during reduction; while TRGs show a wrinkled topography of relatively thin graphene sheets. The introduction of these graphitic fillers into the PVDF matrix contributes differently to the crystallization, rheological behavior and mechanical properties of the composites. Among them, TRGs show the greatest strengthening effect, as revealed by rheological and dynamic mechanical responses. Compared with chemical reduction technology, thermal reduction is a more economical, environmentally friendly and scalable approach to prepare functionalized graphene sheets. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

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