Study of Viscoelastic Behavior and Mechanical Characteristics of Graphene-Filled ABS Composites

Abstract

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) thermoplastic composites were reinforced with graphene fillers for three different weight ratios of 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9%. The compounding was prepared using a twin-screw extruder, and the specimens were made using an injection molding machine. The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)study revealed that the thermal stability of ABS composites was improved (~7%) by adding graphene fillers in pure ABS.The tensile and flexural strength of the ABS/grapheme composites was maximumwith the addition of 0.6 wt% graphene fillers. But the impact strength was reduced (~42%) for the addition of graphene fillers of more than 0.6 wt%. The stiffness of pure ABS was enhanced by more than ~27% with the addition of graphene fillers. It was found from a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis(DMA) study that the storage modulus and Tan Delta values of the composites were improved compared to pure ABS. The storage modulus was increased by more than ~70% over a wide range of temperatures. The addition of graphene fillers in the ABS matrix improved the glass transition temperature (increased from 110 ̊C to 118 ̊C). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images confirmed the homogeneous mixing of the ABS matrix and the graphene fillers, and better dispersion was noticed with 0.6 wt% of graphene fillers.