Elsaadany, Alyaa. Processing, properties and bonding of graphene-reinforced polymer composites prepared by melt processing. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-jsdw-6k42
DescriptionOur research group has developed an in-situ process for exfoliating graphite to graphene in molten polymers. The rapid development of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) in the past several decades is fueled by a focus on light-weighting technologies to meet fuel efficiency standards in the transportation and defense industries. Early work with polyethylene has demonstrated promising mechanical properties, as has subsequent work with engineering resins such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK). My main hypothesis is that this technology can be further enhanced by selecting polymers with superior coordination potential within their structure, such as the polar oxygen groups in polyethylene terephthalate and the phenyl groups in polyphenylene sulfide. By processing these polymers with the in-situ exfoliation process with graphite -- as well as a simple polymer without such polarity, e.g. polypropylene, as a control -- I will be able to assess the role of polymer chemistry on the exfoliation process as well as on the mechanical properties of the extruded composites. Characterization of these composites will be conducted with conventional mechanical property test procedures and the chemical and physical nature of the composites will be assessed by electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and other essential techniques, as required. The potentially enhanced properties of these new composites, as well as the improved chemical understanding of the interaction between polymers and graphite emerging from this work will enable composite resins to be produced of great utility to industrial applications.