Compatibilization of Immiscible Polymer Blends Using Graphene Oxide Sheets

Abstract

By taking the advantage of the unique amphiphilic structure of graphene oxide sheets (GOSs), we develop here a new and effective strategy for compatibilizing immiscible polymer blends. With the incorporation of only 0.5 wt % GOSs into immiscible polyamide/polyphenylene oxide (PA/PPO, 90/10) blends, the droplet diameter of the dispersed minor phase (PPO) is dramatically reduced by more than 1 order of magnitude, indicating a largely improved compatibility in the GOS-filled polymer blends. As a result, the ductility of GOS-compatibilized polymer blends is notably elevated. The compatibilizing effect of GOSs should be due to the fact that GOSs can exhibit strong interactions with both PA and PPO phases, thus minimizing their interfacial tension. Moreover, unlike traditional copolymer compatibilizers, GOSs can also act as reinforcing fillers in polymer blends, thus remarkably enhancing their mechanical strength and thermal stability. Considering the inexpensive sources (graphite powders) and extraordinary properties of GOSs, this work may open up opportunities to produce new compatibilizers that are of great interest in the industrial field.

Effect of homopolymer poly(vinyl acetate) on compatibility and mechanical properties of poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(lactic acid) blends

“…How-ever, most polymer pairs are incompatible thermodynamically. The coarse phase morphology and poor interfacial adhesion often give rise to unfavorable property combinations in the blends [17]. Although PPC and PLA have been reported to be partially compatible, compatibilization is also required to further improve its phase morphology and then endow the blend with desirable properties [18].…”

Strength Properties and Micro-structure of Steel Slag Based Hardened Cementitious Composite with Graphene Oxide

“…The improvement can be summarized as four main reasons. First of all, the function group on the surface of graphene oxide provide high bonding strength between GO and hydrations (such as C-S-H and calcium hydroxide) of cement [1,2,23]. Secondly, as nanomaterial, GO can increase the load-transfer efficiency from cement matrix to the reinforcement [2].…”

“…Though reinforcing mechanism and reinforcing efficiency are different on case by case, there are special attention to the graphene oxide (GO). GO is mono-layer of 2-hybridized carbon atoms derived from a mixture of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and epoxy functionalities [1,2,3]. It has been reported by Z. Pan and K. Gong et al that carboxyl acid groups can react with calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) to form strong covalent bonds, thereby notably improving mechanical properties of GO-cement composites [4,5].…”

Investigation the effect of Graphene on The Morphology, Mechanical and Thermal properties of PLA/PMMA Blends

“…Recently, Cao (2011), Mohamadi (2012 and Pötschke (2014) have investigated the effect of graphene on the properties of polymer blends. Because of the remarkable ability of graphene to improve the properties of polymer nanocomposites and its using in polymer blends, in this study, the effect of graphene on the morphology of PLA/PMMA was evaluated and the interaction between graphene and polymer phases were examined.…”