Disc-shaped graphene with nanometer-size (ca. 50 nm) is successfully fabricated by transversal cutting of carbon nanofibers and it can be used as an effective nucleating agent for crystallization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanocomposite. Our results demonstrate that the graphene/PVA nanocomposites exhibit a 19 % improvement of crystallization at a graphene concentration of 0.5 wt%. To further clarify the findings, the kinetic study of crystallization is conducted by using the Avrami equation. In addition, AFM nanoindentation analysis reveals that the hardness and elastic modulus are increased by 64 % and 271 % respectively for the nanocomposite containing 4 wt% of graphene. The disc-shaped graphene play an important role not only as a nucleating agent but also as a nanofiller.

Fabrication of graphene/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite and its mechanical and crystallization properties

244th National Meeting (2012)

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