Synthesis and characterization of polyethylene terephthalate-reduced graphene oxide composites

Abstract

By means of in situ melt polycondensation of polyethylenterephathalate accompanied with simultaneous reduction of introduced graphene oxide, the composite of polyethylenterephathalate filled with reduced graphene oxide was prepared. Melting and crystallization of the reduced graphene oxide – polyethyleneterephthalate composite was studied by the differential scanning calorimetry method, and the rheological test was carried out by rotational rheometry and compared to the pristine polyethylenterephathalate. The morphology of the reduced graphene oxide – polyethyleneterephthalate composite was studied using optical microscopy. The reduced graphene oxide was isolated from the reduced graphene oxide – polyethyleneterephthalate composite and characterized by thermogravimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction methods. Since a part of polymer could not be removed from reduced graphene oxide particles by trifluoroacetic acid, the hypothesis about probable grafting of polyethyleneterephthalate on reduced graphene oxide sheets was suggested. Rheological behaviour of the reduced graphene oxide – polyethyleneterephthalate composite melt confirms this suggestion. According to the calculations based on thermogravimetry, the reduced graphene oxide, isolated from the reduced graphene oxide – polyethyleneterephthalate composite, consists of about 80% polyethyleneterephthalate.