Study of the Influence of Magnetite Nanoparticles Supported on Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide as Filler on the Mechanical and Magnetic Properties of Polypropylene and Polylactic Acid Nanocomposites.

Raul Quíjada,Julian Geshev,Benjamin Constant-Mandiola,Héctor Aguilar-Bolados

doi:10.3390/polym13101635

Raul Quíjada, Julian Geshev + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13101635

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Abstract

A study addressed to develop new recyclable and/or biodegradable magnetic polymeric materials is reported. The selected matrices were polypropylene (PP) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA). As known, PP corresponds to a non-polar homo-chain polymer and a commodity, while PLA is a biodegradable polar hetero-chain polymer. To obtain the magnetic nanocomposites, magnetite supported on thermally reduced graphene oxide (TrGO:Fe3O4 nanomaterial) to these polymer matrices was added. The TrGO:Fe3O4 nanomaterials were obtained by a co-precipitation method using two types of TrGO obtained by the reduction at 600 °C and 1000 °C of graphite oxide. Two ratios of 2.5:1 and 9.6:1 of the magnetite precursor (FeCl3) and TrGO were used to produce these nanomaterials. Consequently, four types of nanomaterials were obtained and characterized. Nanocomposites were obtained using these nanomaterials as filler by melt mixer method in polypropylene (PP) or polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, the filler contents were 3, 5, and 7 wt.%. Results showed that TrGO600-based nanomaterials presented higher coercivity (Hc = 8.5 Oe) at 9.6:1 ratio than TrGO1000-based nanomaterials (Hc = 4.2 Oe). PLA and PP nanocomposites containing 7 wt.% of filler presented coercivity of 3.7 and 5.3 Oe, respectively. Theoretical models were used to analyze some relevant experimental results of the nanocomposites such as mechanical and magnetic properties.

Highlights

The preparation of polymeric nanocomposites based on carbon nanomaterials is an excellent alternative to obtain polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical or electrical properties [1,2]
The high surface area of graphene allows for use in a wide range of multiple purposes, such as elastomers, thermoplastic, sustainable glassy nanocomposites [7,8,9] as well as hydrogel-based nanocomposites for environmental remediation, heavy metal absorption, and waste treatment [10,11,12]
The high surface area of graphene allows hosting on its surface different nanomaterials which specific properties, such as magnetic properties [13]

Summary

Introduction

The preparation of polymeric nanocomposites based on carbon nanomaterials is an excellent alternative to obtain polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical or electrical properties [1,2]. One of the most widely used nanomaterials as fillers is graphene, due to its diversity of properties, such as its high surface area of 2630 m2 ·g−1 and high mechanical properties of 1300 GPa [6] In this respect, the high surface area of graphene allows for use in a wide range of multiple purposes, such as elastomers, thermoplastic, sustainable glassy nanocomposites [7,8,9] as well as hydrogel-based nanocomposites for environmental remediation, heavy metal absorption, and waste treatment [10,11,12].

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