Preparation and properties of multi-layered polypyrrole/polyethylene glycol/poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) cumene terminated/4,4′-methylenedianiline/graphite-based nanocomposites

Abstract

Functional and non-functional graphite-based polymer nanocomposites have been fabricated via layer by layer polymerization. Functionalization of graphite was achieved by the oxidation of natural graphite, in which widening of the gap between graphite layers occurred facilitating the monomers to polymerize into the graphite galleries. Fourier transform infrared results confirmed the deposition of layered polymers on graphite. The elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy also revealed the composite structure. The morphology of resulting nanocomposites was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Non-functional graphite-based nanocomposites showed rough surface topology while in case of functional graphite-based nanocomposites, deposition of polymers on graphite sheets was observed. The presence of graphite nanosheets in multi-layered nanocomposites was confirmed by the appearance of X-ray diffraction peak at 2θ = 26.75°. Thermogravimetric analysis of multi-layered nanocomposites functional graphite/polypyrole/polyethylene glycol/poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)cumene terminated/4,4′-methylenedianilin (F-G/PPy/PEG/PSMA/MDA) showed higher degradation temperature for 10% weight loss at 475℃ compared with non-functional graphite/polypyrole/polyethylene glycol/poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)cumene terminated/4,4′-methylenedianilin (NF-G/PPy/PEG/PSMA/MDA) at 453℃. The electrical conductivity of the fabricated nanocomposite F-G/PPy/PEG/PSMA/MDA was increased with functional filler up to 14.4 S cm−1.