The Effect of Oxygen-Plasma Treated Graphene Nanoplatelets upon the Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Polycarbonate Hybrid Nanocomposites Used for Electrostatic Dissipative Applications

Akkachai Poosala,Duanghathai Pentrakoon,Kittipong Hrimchum,Darunee Aussawasathien

doi:10.1155/2015/470297

Abstract

Oxygen-plasma treated graphene nanoplatelet (OGNP), multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and polycarbonate (PC) hybrid nanocomposites were prepared via a melting process using a twin-screw extruder. The contents of the OGNPs were in the range of 0.0 to 5.0 parts per hundred resin (phr), whilst the dosage of MWCNTs was kept at a constant of 2.0 wt%. Nanocomposites containing 2.0 wt% of MWCNTs and mixtures of 2.0 wt% of MWCNTs at 1.5 to 5.0 phr of OGNPs had tribocharged voltages, surface resistivities, and decay times, all within the electrostatic discharge (ESD) specification. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that the OGNPs slightly intercalated and distributed also within the PC matrix. The glass transition temperatureTgand heat capacity jump, at the glass transition stages of nanocomposite, slightly changed, as the contents of the OGNPs increased. The melt flow index (MFI) of nanocomposites significantly decreased when MWCNTs were added to the PC resin and slightly changed as the dosage of OGNPs was increased. Tensile Young’s modulus of nanocomposites tended to increase, as the elongation at break and impact strength decreased, when OGNP concentrations were increased. This research work exhibited that OGNP/MWCNT/PC hybrid nanocomposites do indeed have the potential to be used in ESD applications.

Highlights

Nowadays, there are susceptible problems associated with antielectrostatic discharge (ESD) properties upon the performance of electronic circuits, because ESD impacts upon most industrial products and their associated qualities
It is clearly seen that Oxygen-plasma treated graphene nanoplatelet (OGNP) slightly intercalated in the PC matrix because the peak intensity of OGNPs at 2θ = 26.4∘ firmly remained, and increased as the amount of OGNPs increased, which corresponds to the interlayer spacing of unintercalated graphite (d = 0.34 nm) [23]
This may be a result of slight interaction between OGNPs and the polar groups of PC, since OGNPs prepared by oxygen plasma treatment might not have enough functional groups on the surface, such as oxygen and hydroxyl groups [37], and the gap between graphene sheets still remained narrow

Summary

Introduction

There are susceptible problems associated with antielectrostatic discharge (ESD) properties upon the performance of electronic circuits, because ESD impacts upon most industrial products and their associated qualities. Especially microchips, can be damaged by ESD and ESD protection of sensitive components is necessary during manufacturing, device assembly, packaging, and shipping. Electrostatic dissipating thermoplastic composites have successfully eliminated ESD failures in many applications of the electronics industry, such as injection moldable packaging and in-process trays. Various conductive fillers are currently available to material engineers, including carbon fibers (CFs), carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metallic powders, flakes or fibers, and glass spheres or glass fibers coated with metals [1]. The conductivity of ESD composites depends upon the filler type and its concentrations and upon the specific polymer matrix used and its associative generated morphology [2]. CNTs, along with a cylindrical nanostructure and graphene with a two-dimensional sheet of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms densely packed into a honeycomb network, have distinctly different geometrical shapes and yet they have remarkable properties, such as superior thermal and mechanical properties and exceptional electronic transport

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