Synthesis and characterization of layer-aligned poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene nanocomposites

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 51; no. 15; pp. 3431 - 3435
• Main Authors: Yang, Xiaoming, Li, Liang, Shang, Songmin, Tao, Xiao-ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 08.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alcohols; Applied sciences; Composites; Crystallization; Diffraction; Dispersion; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Graphene; Mechanical properties; Molecular structure; Nanocomposites; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyvinyl alcohols; Technology of polymers; Thermal properties; Thermogravimetric analysis; Thermal properties; Nanocomposites; Mechanical properties; Dispersion degree; Tensile property; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Thermal stability; Polymer filler interaction; Transformation temperature; Chemical reduction; Polyvinylalcohol; Heat of transformation; Graphene; Morphology; Concentration effect; Graphite Oxides; Nanocomposite; Chemical synthesis; Growth from solution
• ISSN: 0032-3861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2010.05.034

Layer-aligned poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene nanocomposites in the form of films are prepared by reducing graphite oxide in the polymer matrix in a simple solution processing. X-ray diffractions, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis are used to study the structure and properties of these nanocomposites. The results indicate that graphene is dispersed on a molecular scale and aligned in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix and there exists strong interfacial interactions between both components mainly by hydrogen bonding, which are responsible for the change of the structures and properties of the PVA/graphene nanocomposites such as the increase in Tg and the decrease in the level of crystallization. [Display omitted]