Electrically conductive graphene-coated polyurethane foam and its epoxy composites

• Published in: Composites communications Vol. 7; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Xinzhao, Xu, Guoming, Lin, Dongyan, Liu, Guoxin, Sui, Rui, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Cellulose nanowhiskers; Electrical conductivity; Graphene-coated polyurethane foams; Polymer composites; Polymer composites; Electrical conductivity; Cellulose nanowhiskers; Graphene-coated polyurethane foams
• ISSN: 2452-2139; 2452-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coco.2017.11.003

A facile method is presented to manufacture electrically conductive graphene-coated polyurethane foam (GPF) by dip-coating polyurethane (PU) foams in a graphene (GN) aqueous suspension containing cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) as dispersion assistant. The electrical conductivity of the GPF/epoxy composites reaches 2.46S/m at a relatively low GN content (0.9wt%), and the electrical percolation threshold is around 0.3wt%. The structure observations reveal that the high electrical conductivity results from the 3D networks formed by GN nanosheets coated on the inner surface of PU foams. Moreover, CNW is a key factor to facilitate the formation of GN networks on the PU skeleton. The highest electrical conductivity is obtained at the CNW / GN weight ratio of 1:20. •Highly conductive GPFs and GPF/epoxy composites were fabricated via template-based dip-casting and vacuum assisted infiltration.•Integral 3D GN networks were formed in the composites.•CNW facilitated the formation of GN networks on the PU skeleton.