Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Synthesis and mechanical properties
of nanocomposites on the basis of graphene oxide
R.M. Basnukaeva1, H.V. Rusakova1, L.S. Fomenko1, S.V. Lubenets1, A.V.Dolbin1, N.A. Vinnikov1, M.V. Khlistyuck1, A.V. Blyznyuk2

1 B.Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of NAS of Ukraine, 47 Nauky Ave., Kharkiv, 61103, Ukraine
E-mail: razeta9556@gmail.com
2 National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute",2 Kyrpychova Str., Kharkiv 61102, Ukraine

Improvement in mechanical characteristics of polymers can be achieved by introducing of high-strength carbon nanoparticles, among them graphene and its oxide with unique strength and Young modulus, as reinforcing nanofillers. Here the object was to synthesize the polystyrene-graphene oxide and polyester resin-graphene oxide nanocomposites and to measure Vickers microhardness of the nanocomposites and the matrix polymers for the purpose of revealing of the filler strengthening role.
Graphene oxide was prepared by exfoliation of graphite oxide produced by the modified Hummers method. The structure, morphology and elemental composition of the produced graphene oxide were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The nanocomposites were produced by ultrasonic dispersion of graphene oxide in the liquid polymer.

It was shown that the introduction of 0.3 wt. % graphene oxide in polystyrene increased the microhardness value by 38-45 %. Qualitative difference of mechanical properties of the polyester resin-graphene oxide nanocomposite and pure polymer was that at room temperature pure polyester resin behaved like elastomer (microhardness impressions were fully recovered after unloading), whereas the nanocomposite showed the glassy properties (impressions were retained). The temperature dependence of microhardness of polyester resin-graphene oxide nanocomposite in the temperature range 77-295 K is shown in the figure.