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Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Polyhedrons via Origami-Like Self-Folding
Published on: September 23, 2018
Chemically modified graphene/polyimide composite films based on utilization of covalent bonding and oriented
Ting Huang1, Renguo Lu, Chao Su
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, PR China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 13, 2012
Summary
Chemically modified graphene (CMG) was dispersed in polyimide (PI) for enhanced composite properties. Even small amounts of CMG significantly improved mechanical, thermal, and electrical performance, showing great application potential.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Thermosetting polyimides (PI) are high-performance polymers with excellent thermal and mechanical properties.
- Graphene, a 2D carbon nanomaterial, offers exceptional properties but achieving uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion in polymer matrices remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple fabrication approach for molecular-level dispersion and planar orientation of chemically modified graphene (CMG) in a polyimide (PI) matrix.
- To enhance the interfacial adhesion between CMG and the PI matrix.
- To investigate the impact of CMG on the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and hydrophobic properties of the PI composite.
Main Methods:
- A composite fabrication approach was developed to achieve molecular-level dispersion and planar orientation of CMG in a PI matrix.
- Covalent bonding between CMG and the PI matrix was established to ensure strong interfacial adhesion.
- Detailed investigations were conducted to confirm the covalent adhesion and oriented distribution of CMG.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in mechanical performance, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, and hydrophobic behavior were achieved with only a small addition of CMG.
- Efficient stress transfer was observed at the CMG/PI interfaces.
- A hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic transition and electrical percolation were observed at a low loading of 0.2 wt % CMG.
Conclusions:
- The facile fabrication method enables effective utilization of CMG in PI matrices, leading to enhanced composite properties.
- The developed composite system demonstrates broad application potential for graphene-based polymer nanocomposites, particularly in high-performance thermosetting systems.
- The study highlights the importance of molecular-level dispersion, planar orientation, and strong interfacial adhesion for maximizing graphene's effectiveness in polymer composites.
