Toughness and electrical properties of filled polypropylene and polycarbonate with graphene-based compounds
Lozano Tomas (1)*, Morales Luisiana (1), Mendoza Patricia (1), Flores Sergio (2), Lopez Erika (2), Guerrero Carlos (3)
(1) Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Madero - Tamaupilas - Mexico, (2) Centro de Investigacion en Materiales - Chihuahua - Mexico, (3) Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon - Nuevo Leon - Mexico
Graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and commercial graphene (G) were incorporated to polypropylene(PP) and polycarbonate (PC) matrices at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 wt % respectively. Toughness and electrical properties were studied. Reduced graphene was the best graphene based compound to increase the elongation at break and impact resistance of PP. Sample PP/RGO-0.75 resulted in an increment in elongation at break (15%) and impact resistance (31%). The GO at 0.25% wt increased impact resistance of PC as well as a 291% increment in the elongation at break. Either physical or chemical interactions between nanoparticles and polymeric matrices were very important to achieve this increment in mechanical properties.
The electrical conductivity of both polymers with the proposed graphene concentrations did not increase in an important way.