Float-stacked graphene-PMMA laminate.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Single-atom-thick graphene offers exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties for composite reinforcement.
• Achieving precise alignment of graphene within polymer matrices remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a float-stacking strategy for accurate alignment of monolayer graphene in a polymer matrix.
• To investigate the impact of aligned graphene on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite.

Main Methods:

• A float-stacking technique was employed, utilizing graphene-polymer membranes (GPM) at a water-air interface.
• Layer-by-layer winding and hot-rolling processes were used to create conformal contact and pre-tension the composite.
• The number and spacing of graphene layers were precisely controlled during fabrication.

Main Results:

• The float-stacking method successfully aligned 100 layers of monolayer graphene in a poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) matrix with controlled intervals.
• The resulting composite achieved a specific strength of approximately 118.5 MPa g⁻¹ cm³, exceeding that of lightweight aluminum alloys.
• A significant increase in thermal conductivity to approximately 4.00 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ was observed, a 2,000% improvement over neat PMMA.

Conclusions:

• The float-stacking strategy is an effective method for precisely aligning graphene reinforcements in polymer matrices.
• Aligned graphene significantly enhances the mechanical and thermal performance of polymer composites.
• This approach holds promise for developing advanced lightweight materials with superior properties.