Issue 47, 2014

Reactive emulsion mixing as a novel pathway toward water-borne reduced graphene oxide/polymer composites

Abstract

A new, simple and versatile technique for synthesis of water-borne poly(methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites is presented. The technique is based on an emulsion mixing process, during which a water dispersible polyurethane crosslinker containing free isocyanate functionalities on both chain ends is added. The crosslinker bonds covalently the polymer and the rGO, in one complex hybrid structure. The bonding was established through spontaneous NCO reaction with OH functionalities present on the rGO platelet's surface and through OH functionalities present on the polymer nanoparticle's surface (introduced by addition of functional monomer 2-hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate during polymer synthesis). As a result highly stable composites were obtained, in which the rGO platelets were strongly bonded within the polymer matrix. This good bonding resulted in highly improved mechanical properties of the composites; thus for a composite containing 1 wt% rGO, Young's modulus of elasticity increased about 14-fold, the storage modulus increased up to 100% and the modulus of elasticity increased about one order of magnitude with respect to the neat polymer. The composites exhibit electrical conductive properties, which open possibilities for their application as electrically conductive coatings in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications or as flexible electronics.

Graphical abstract: Reactive emulsion mixing as a novel pathway toward water-borne reduced graphene oxide/polymer composites

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Feb 2014
Accepted
20 May 2014
First published
27 May 2014

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 24477-24483

Author version available

Reactive emulsion mixing as a novel pathway toward water-borne reduced graphene oxide/polymer composites

D. Spasevska, V. Daniloska, G. P. Leal, J. B. Gilev and R. Tomovska, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 24477 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA01487A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements