Graphitic nanofillers in PMMA nanocomposites - An investigation of particle size and dispersion and their influence on nanocomposite properties

T. Ramanathan, S. Stankovich, D. A. Dikin, H. Liu, H. Shen, S. T. Nguyen, L. C. Brinson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

245 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of graphite/PMMA composites have been evaluated as functions of particle size and dispersion of the graphitic nanofiller components via the use of three different graphitic nanofillers: "as received graphite" (ARG), "expanded graphite," (EG) and "graphite nanoplatelets" (GNPs) EG, a graphitic materials with much lower density than ARG, was prepared from ARG flakes via an acid intercalation and thermal expansion. Subsequent sonication of EG in a liquid yielded GNPs as thin stacks of graphitic platelets with thicknesses of ∼10 nm. Solution-based processing was used to prepare PMMA composites with these three fillers. Dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal analysis, and electrical impedance measurements were carried out on the resulting composites, demonstrating that reduced particle size, high surface area, and increased surface roughness can significantly alter the graphite/polymer interface and enhance the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the polymer matrix.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2097-2112
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
Volume45
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2007

Keywords

  • Electrical properties
  • Mechanical properties
  • Nanocomposite
  • Nanoparticles
  • PMMA
  • Particle size distribution
  • Thermal properties

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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