Influence of Thermally Reduced Graphene Low-Loadings on the Crystallization Behavior and Morphology of Biodegradable Poly(ethylene succinate)

Abstract

Through a solution and coagulation method, biodegradable poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) and thermally reduced graphene (TRG) nanocomposites were prepared at low TRG loadings. The nonisothermal melt crystallization peak temperature values and overall isothermal melt crystallization rates are greater in the nanocomposites than in neat PES, indicative of a nucleating agent effect of TRG; however, the crystallization mechanism of PES remains unchanged in the nanocomposites, regardless of TRG loading and crystallization temperature. The nonisothermal and melt crystallization processes of the nanocomposites are found to vary with the TRG loading, exhibiting a maximum at 0.25 wt % TRG loading. The incorporation of a small amount of TRG shows little influence on the spherulitic growth rates but obviously affects the spherulites nucleation density values of the nanocomposites. TRG does not modify the crystal structure of PES in the nanocomposites.