In the present work, we have developed a graphene based polyurea composites of enhanced mechanical properties for structural applications. Graphene having the unique properties of high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity has become a center of nanomaterials research. Having strong Vander walls force between the graphene sheets makes the dispersion of graphene unstable in solvents. One of the recent methods coming from Dr. Green’s group is to stabilize graphene by pyrene derivatives which can later be dispersed into water and also can be used in nanocomposites while preserving its characteristic conductivity and mechanical properties1. In the present work, we stabilized graphene using Polybutyric acid (PBA) which is also a pyrene based acid. To prepare pure polyurea (PU) sheets, we mixed Versalink P-1000 oligomeric diamine (VP1000) and Isonate 143 L at a weight ratio of 4:1 and subsequently cure the PU at 80 °C for 4 h. We varied graphene content in polyurea/grapheme composites from 0 to 2wt%. The optimum enhancement of mechanical properties was achieved for 0.6 wt% graphene. Currently, we are working on graphene stabilization using the admiceller polymerization through formation of thin polymer film by on graphene2. The functionalization work using admiceller polymerization is certainly a novel idea which will be explored in my work using pristine graphene. In my project, I would explore the pristine graphene formation using admiceller polymerization and use of that graphene in polymer to form nanocomposites. REFERENCES 1. A. S. Wajid, S. Das, F. Irin, HST Ahmed, J. L. Shelburne, D. Parviz D, et al. Carbon, 50,526-34 ( 2012). 2. L. Lei , J. Qiu , E. Sakai, Chem. Engg. J., 209, 20–27(2012).

Developement of graphene/polyurea nacomposites based on admiceller polymerization

249th National Meeting (2015)

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