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Development of Reinforced Polyester/Graphene Nanocomposite Showing Tailored Electrical Conductivity
Federico Serenari1, Milad Madinehei2, Nima Moghimian3
1Department of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering (DEI) 'G. Marconi', Università Di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
Polymers
|October 17, 2020
Summary
This study explores graphene-reinforced resin composites, finding a significant conductivity increase at 3-5 wt.% graphene. Mechanical properties showed minimal improvement, with in-plane conductivity lower than bulk.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Composites
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene is a promising filler for enhancing polymer composite properties.
- Scalable production methods are crucial for industrial applications of graphene composites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electrical and mechanical properties of resin/graphene composites.
- To determine the percolation threshold and conductivity behavior.
- To assess the impact of graphene loading on mechanical performance.
Main Methods:
- Resin/graphene mixtures prepared via high shear mixing (0-10 wt.%).
- Compression molding for sample fabrication.
- Electrical conductivity measured using four-point probe (in-plane) and dielectric spectrometer (across-plane).
- Mechanical properties evaluated by three-point bending and impact tests.
Main Results:
- Percolation threshold identified between 3-5 wt.% graphene.
- A 7-order magnitude increase in conductivity observed around the percolation threshold.
- In-plane conductivity was lower than bulk conductivity, differing from melt-compounded thermoplastic composites.
- Mechanical properties showed no significant improvement with increasing graphene content, except for a slight increase in toughness.
Conclusions:
- Resin/graphene composites exhibit a well-defined percolation threshold with substantial conductivity enhancement.
- The processing method influences electrical property anisotropy.
- Graphene addition does not significantly improve mechanical strength but may enhance toughness.
