Abstract
The aim of this work is to study the relationship between the chemical-physical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and the performance of a polyamide 6 (PA6) in terms of mechanical reinforcement and resistance to UV-exposure. For this purpose, two samples of GO possessing different oxidation degrees were added (0.75 wt.%) to PA6 by way of a two-step technique and the materials achieved were carefully analysed from a morphological, chemical-physical, mechanical point of view. Photo-oxidation tests were carried out to assess the performance of this class of nanohybrids after 240 h of UV-exposure. The results reveal that both nanocomposites exhibit enhanced mechanical performance and durability of PA6. However, the most oxidized GO led to a higher increase of mechanical properties and a stronger resistance to UV-exposure. All the analyses confirm that both GO samples are well dispersed and covalently attached to PA6. However, the higher the oxidation level of GO the stronger and the more extended the chemical interphase of the nanocomposite. As regards photochemical stability, both GO samples display UV-shielding capacity but the most oxidized GO also shows radical scavenging activity by virtue of its nanocavities and defects, imparted by prolonged oxidation, which endows PA6 with an outstanding durability even after 240 h of UV-exposure.
Highlights
Graphene oxide (GO), a representative pseudo-two-dimensional solid, is considered the main precursor of graphene
The results reveal that both nanocomposites exhibit enhanced mechanical performance and durability of polyamide 6 (PA6)
Owing to the presence of defects and cavities within its honeycomb, GO-2 could act as a radical scavenger and the formation of an extended chemical interphase in the materials containing GO-2 resulted in a sort of further impermeability towards the propagation of oxidation reactions, as confirmed by ATR performed onto the opposite sides of the samples
Summary
Graphene oxide (GO), a representative pseudo-two-dimensional solid, is considered the main precursor of graphene. Achieved by oxidation of pristine graphite under acidic conditions, it displays an intriguing structure by virtue of a double honeycomb, constituted by both sp and sp hybridized carbon atoms and many highly reactive functional groups attached to the layers. It was synthesized by Brodie [1] more than one century ago, the structure of GO is still an object of discussion [2]. The singular physical and chemical properties of GO stimulated the interest of materials scientists for the preparation of a wide range of—intercalated or exfoliated—polymer nanocomposites [6,7,8].
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