Mechanical Characterization of Polycarbonate-Graphene Oxide (PCG) Nanocomposite

Abstract

Polymer matrix nanocomposite are of great interest due to its high specific strength, low cost, and ease of processing & synthesis. Various attempts have been made to improve properties of polymer matrix by introducing nano reinforcement. In present report, effect of low cost nanosheet reinforcement, Graphene Oxide (GO), in Polycarbonate (PC) matrix was studied for mechanical properties of PC-GO (PCG) nanocomposite. PC is used in various mechanical parts and structural applications. Low cost GO was synthesized by chemical oxidation route using low cost graphite flakes. To get better dispersion of GO in PC, solution mixing method was used. First, the thin film of PCG nanocomposite was prepared by mixing sonicated GO in Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and beads of PC. After that these sheets were extruded using an injection molding machine to synthesize dog-bone sample of PCG nanocomposites. Morphological studies of samples were performed using FE-SEM machine. Dog-bone samples were characterized using micro mechanical testing machine. PCG composite was prepared for 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 wt.% of GO reinforcement in PC matrix. As the percentage of GO reinforcement increased, both tensile strength and elastic modulus of PCG nanocomposite increased. At 0.2 wt.% of GO tensile strength and elastic modulus was increased by 57 and 13%, respectively. GO reinforcement in PC showed better mechanical performance over pure PC.