Study the molecular structure of poly(ε-caprolactone)/graphene oxide and graphene nanocomposite nanofibers

Abstract

In this article, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite nanofibrous mats were prepared using electrospinning technique. Dynamic mechanical analysis of mats electrospun from solution 16wt% PCL showed 22% and 133% increment in shrink force in the presence of 0.1wt% GO and RGO nanosheets respectively. The creep resistance was also increased 24% and 41%. The good enlargement of molecular chains of PCL at presence of nanosheets and strong chemical interaction within the molecular chains of PCL and nanosheets were caused the increment of shrink force and creep resistance of electrospun mats. However, less relaxation time and higher entanglement density of molecular chains in solution 14wt% and 18wt% PCL respectively limited the interaction within molecular chains of PCL and nanosheets in electrospinning process and thus showed less increment in creep resistance and shrink force of mats electrospun from them. Moreover, tensile stress test of mats electrospun from solution 16wt% PCL showed 53% and 189% increment in the tensile stress at presence of 0.1wt% GO and RGO respectively.