Comparison of the Emulsion Mixing and In Situ Polymerization Techniques for Synthesis of Water‐Borne Reduced Graphene Oxide/Polymer Composites: Advantages and Drawbacks

Abstract

Water‐borne reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/polymer composites have been synthesized by emulsion mixing and in situ polymerization. The main challenge is to synthesize colloidally stable hybrid latexes that are able to produce composite films by water evaporation at standard atmospheric conditions for their possible application as electrically conductive coatings. The selected polymer system is composed from poly(methyl metacrylate/butyl acrylate) in 50/50 wt% ratio in order to obtain glass transition temperature of the final film lower than the room temperature. The polymer is joined with rGO stable dispersions, which are prepared by reduction of GO in the presence of polyvynil pyrrolidone (PVP). The latex blends are composed of weakly bonded rGO platelets with polymer particles by the presence of PVP, whereas the covalent bonds between the polymers and the rGO in the in situ hybrid latexes are established. Both procedures result in stable hybrid latexes, from which layered composites are obtained by slow water evaporation. The composite blends present better self‐organization of rGO, tendency of segregated network formation, and electrically conductive properties. The in situ composites present decreased aggregation of rGO, uniformly distributed rGO in the polymeric matrix and lower conductivity.

Electrical and mechanical percolation in graphene-latex nanocomposites

“…Many methods exist to incorporate nanofillers into the polymer matrix: solution mixing [5e6], melt blending, latex blending [7e8] or in-situ polymerization [9].…”

Crosslinked reduced graphene oxide/polymer composites via in situ synthesis by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization

“…They are required to present very good mechanical properties, stability at extreme conditions, possibilities of self-healing, sensitivity at different atmospheric conditions, electrical or thermal conductivity, etc. It has been used to introduce electrical conductivity, [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]26,[31][32][33] thermal stability, [21][22][23]26,30 flame retardancy, 28,29 or sensing properties, 24 or to improve the mechanical properties, 10,14,[17][18][19][20][21]26,30,32,34 etc. Different shape and morphology nanofillers have been incorporated into polymer matrices, such as spherical nanoparticles: silica, 1-3 titania, 4,5 noble metals, 6 etc; platelet-like two dimensional fillers: clays, 7,8 or graphene; and one dimensional fillers: nanotubes or fibers.…”

Easy preparation of graphene-based conducting polymer composite via organogel

“…GO, rGO, and their polymer composites have been widely studied [10][11][12][13][14]. Graphene-based polymer composites demonstrate exceptional mechanical, thermal, electrical, gas barrier, and flame-resistant properties compared to the neat polymers.…”