Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is a widely used for applications such as 3D printing, wire insulation, toys, pipes, and protective shells for hard hats and luggage. Using a new approach to exfoliating and self-assembling graphene, interfacial trapping, we have combined the excellent properties inherent to ABS with graphene’s electrical conductivity. Graphene, despite its well-publicized mechanical and electrical properties, has proven to be a difficult material to incorporate into a polymer matrix. Graphene can be produced in several ways, the most common being the exfoliation of graphite. However, typical exfoliation processes require large inputs of energy or hazardous chemicals for process such as extended high-power sonication or the oxidation of graphite followed by the reduction of exfoliated graphene oxide. In contrast, our method utilizes the spontaneous spreading and exfoliation of graphite at oil/water interfaces and graphene’s stabilization of water-in-oil emulsions. Using mixtures of polybutadiene, styrene, and acrylonitrile as the oil phase for graphene stabilized water-in-oil emulsions, followed polymerization, yields a 3D percolating network of graphene spheres surrounded by ABS. The material is less dense than traditional ABS, while maintaining mechanical strength and benefitting from electrical conductivity.

Electrically conductive engineering plastic: ABS with a self-assembled graphene network

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.