Morphology and properties of segregated-network chemically converted graphene-poly(vinyl chloride) composite

The poly(vinyl chloride)-chemically converted graphene (PVC-CCG) composite prepared using colloidal blending, filtration and drying, and followed by compression molding at 175 degrees C, exhibited an electrical percolation threshold as low as 0.4 wt% and an electrical conductivity as high as 46.5 S/m corresponding to 4.0 wt% of CCG. The high electrical conductivity of the PVC-CCG composite was the result of minimizing the amount of surfactant using various methods. For example, the PVC latex was prepared using miniemulsion polymerization, and the CCG was synthesized via hydrazine reduction of graphene oxide at ambient temperature in order to diminish the irreversible agglomeration of CCG sheets during reduction. The morphology of the PVC-CCG composite, characterized using scanning electron microscopy in charge contrast mode, revealed that the CCG sheets created a segregated network in the PVC matrix.