Dynamic performance of an amorphous polymer composite under controlled loading of reduced graphene oxide based on entanglement of filler with polymer chains

Abstract

This work recommends an optimum content of rGO required for effective improvement in thermomechanical properties of rGO/ABS composites. According to electrical conductivity measurements, the percolation threshold of rGO in ABS should be around 1 wt% but mechanical and rheological properties keep on increasing beyond this value. However, on the basis of tensile and damping properties, 1.5 wt% is the optimum content of rGO that should be used as reinforcement in thermoplastic polymer matrices. Composites having 1.5 wt% rGO in ABS have shown significant improvement in tensile strength, excellent degree of entanglement (specially at higher temperatures) and a very low value for C-factor. As observed in FESEM micrographs, the deterioration of properties with further increase in rGO content (2 wt% and above) should be due to non-uniform dispersion of filler inside the matrix. Moreover, the elliptical shape of Cole-Cole plots validates the compatibility of rGO as reinforcing filler in ABS matrix.