Graphene, with its unique mechanical and electrical properties, has garnered continued interest as a filler in composite materials. However, due to its poor dispersability, many challenges still face the successful incorporation of pristine graphene into composite materials. We have recently developed a method to incorporate pristine graphene into polymer composites by exfoliating flake graphite at a water-oil interface followed by mixing to produce graphene-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. The monomer oil phase is then polymerized to produce a polymer foam with a percolating graphene network. The presented work focuses on the effect of graphene on polymer growth as well as morphological changes that occur in the emulsion and composites as a result of increased loading of graphene. Changes in molecular weight, characterized by gel permeation chromatography, indicate an interaction between the radical initiator and the edges of the graphene sheets. Morphology changes, observed by electron and light microscopy as well as acoustic spectrometry, reveal decreases in sphere size with increasing graphene content until the spherical structure of the emulsion is ultimately lost. Composites are additionally characterized by TGA and DSC to elucidate changes in polymer structure and thermal transitions. <br/>

Beyond percolation: Exploring the effects of high graphene loading on polymer-graphene composites and <i>in situ</i> bulk polymerizations

255th National Meeting (2018)

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Beyond percolation: Exploring the effects of high graphene loading on polymer-graphene composites and in situ bulk polymerizations