Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Mechanical properties,Crystallization and Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Poly (ethyleneg-maleic anhydride)

Abstract The excellent electrical property of PE/graphene has potential for applications such as electromagnetic-reflectivematerials and semiconductor layers in high voltage cables. Poly(ethylene-g-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) graphene nanoplatelets (xGn) (PEMA–xGn) composites were prepared by melt mixing process in an internal batch mixer. Thetensile test demonstrated that the PEMA-xGn composites shows higher tensile modulus and strength than neat PEMAcomposites. xGn influenced dynamic mechanical properties of PEMA–xGn composites. It was observed that the increase of xGn in PEMA matrix up to 1 wt. % increased the modulus. It was also revealed that the α-, β- and γ-transitions of the PEMA were affected by polymer chain branching and graphene nanoplatelets. These could be attributed to interactions and potentially bond formations between xGn and the maleic anhydride of PEMA as well ascrystalline behavior of the nanocomposites. Crystallization temperature was enhanced, as a result of heterogeneous nucleation by xGn.

Keywords:

Poly(ethylene-g-maleic anhydride) , graphene , nanocomposite , mechanical properties , dynamic mechanical analysis , differential scanning calorimetry