Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide/PMMA nanocomposites with amino-terminated vinyl polydimethylsiloxane phase interfaces

Abstract

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the Hummers method and was grafted by an amino-terminated vinyl polydimethylsiloxane (AP). The AP-modified GO (GO-AP) was incorporated in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) to prepare nanocomposites. Raman microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the particles. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and dispersing status of the PMMA-based nanocomposites were also investigated. The results indicated that AP was grafted on the surface of GO via the amidation reaction, and the quantity of the grafted AP was approximately 20 wt% that of GO-AP. With the addition of GO-AP, the three-point bending strength of GO-AP/PMMA increased to approximately 58 MPa, and the dispersion of the particles was also enhanced. GO wrapped by AP could not form thermal conducting networks at the percolation thresholds. The increasing amount of AP prevented the formation of thermal conduction network and decreased the thermal conductivity of the composites. The thermal stability of the composites was affected by three main reasons, and the total effect of the three reasons on thermal stability illustrated a negative trend.