Polyketone (PK) nanocomposites containing non-covalently modified graphene nano platelets (GNP) were prepared by solution casting. The GNP with high aspect ratio largely reduces moisture or gas permeability by increasing the tortuosity when the GNP was homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix.<br/>To prevent GNP aggregation in the matrix, pyrene derivatives that non-covalently functionalize the GNP through π- π interaction were added. The pyrene derivatives on the GNP surface not only facilitate a homogeneous dispersion of GNP but also improve the interaction between GNP and PK matrix, which provides a low permeability and results in an efficient load transfer across the matrix. Each type of functional group on the pyrene basal plane has different effect on the graphene dispersion in the matrix, and further affects the final barrier property of PK nanocomposite film. For example, 1-aminopyrene (APy) which is a bifunctional molecule with a pyrenyl group and an amino group exhibited a remarkable improvement in graphene dispersion. This could be ascribed to the hydrogen bonding interaction between a polar amino group of APy and a carbonyl group of PK. A small shift of absorption peak for the carbonyl group was observed in FT-IR spectra. Consequently, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 1 wt% GNP-APy/PK was about 12% lower than that of GNP-Py/PK and 30% lower than pristine GNP/PK.

Polyketone nanocomposite with non-covalently functionalized graphene for enhanced moisture barrier property

249th National Meeting (2015)

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