The Effect of Graphene Oxide Dispersion on Structure-Property Relationships in Graphene-Based Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

The performance of graphene/polymer nanocomposites depends on many factors but the major factor is a nanoparticles dispersion and distribution into the host matrix. The present work investigates the effect of the dispersion of graphene oxide upon the structure-property relations in metallocene linear low density polyethylene (PE), homo polypropylene (PP), and blends thereof. These nanocomposites were prepared by solvent processing, where DMF and o-xylene were used as solvents for Graphene Oxide (GO) powder and the polymers respectively, before the two components were combined to form a well-mixed initial state. Characterization of the structure and crystallization of the nanocomposites was carried out by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and diffraction (SAXS and WAXD). The chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by Raman spectroscopy, and the latter used to calculate the ID/IG value for a pure GO samples. The thermal properties of the resulting nanocomposites were investigated by DSC and TGA in order to obtain Melting temperature ( ), crystallization temperature ( ) and degree of crystallinity ( ) as well as a range of degradation temperatures. The effect of GO on the mechanical properties was studied via the ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus.