Oxidative degradation of asphalt mixtures is one of the major causes of roadway deterioration resulting in major expenses for roadway repair. Three molecular weights of amine-functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB-NH2) were each synthesized and grafted onto a graphene oxide aerogel (aGO) to yield PIB-modified graphene oxide (PIB-g-GO). Nanocomposite films were fabricated using a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer as a model matrix and PIB-g-GO as a functional additive to explore the influence of PIB-g-GO on oxygen barrier properties of the nanocomposite films. Grafting of PIB-NH2 onto the aGO was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) was used to determine the d-spacing of the aGO before and after grafting of the PIB-NH2. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the platelet size of the aGO and PIB-g-GO. Solution casting was used to create films for oxygen barrier measurements. SBS films were prepared with varying content of PIB-g-GO (0.25 – 1.00 wt.% relative to polymer matrix); films containing unmodified GO and neat polyisobutylene were also prepared for direct comparison. All films were tested in a MOCON instrument for oxygen barrier properties. Films containing unmodified GO exhibited a modest decrease of 22.9% in oxygen permeation while films containing PIB-g-GO resulted in a 41.4 – 62.9% decrease in oxygen permeation.

Synthesis and evaluation of polyisobutylene-grafted graphene oxide nanocomposite films with improved oxygen barrier properties

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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