Affiliation: | 1. Graphene Labs, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa, 16146 Italy;2. BeDimensional SpA, Via Albisola 121, Genoa, 16163 Italy;3. Graphene Labs, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy;4. Graphene Labs, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy Department of Physical Chemistry & Material Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Sq 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;5. Graphene Labs, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy BeDimensional SpA, Via Albisola 121, Genoa, 16163 Italy |
Abstract: | One of the applications of graphene in which its scalable production is of utmost importance is the development of polymer composites. Among the techniques used to produce graphene flakes, the liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphite stands out due to its versatility and scalability. However, solvents suitable for the LPE process are generally toxic and have a high boiling point, making the processing challenging. The use of low boiling point solvents could be convenient for the processing, due to the easiness of their removal. In this study, the use of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a stabilizing agent is proposed for the production of graphene flakes in a low boiling point solvent, that is, acetone. The graphene dispersions produced in the mixture acetone-PMMA have higher concentration, +175 %, and contain a higher percentage of few-layer graphene flakes (<5 layers), that is, +60 %, compared to the dispersions prepared in acetone. The as-produced graphene dispersions are used to develop graphene/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composites. The mechanical properties of the pristine polymer are improved, that is, +22 % in the Young's modulus, by adding 0.01 wt. % of graphene flakes. Moreover, a decrease of ≈20 % in the oxygen permeability is obtained by using 0.1 wt. % of graphene flakes filler, compared to the unloaded matrix. |