Spectroscopic And Morphological Analysis Of Graphene Vinylester Nanocomposites

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, USA

²Biosensors and Bioelectronics Centre, Institute of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, S-58183, Linköping, Sweden

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2013, Current Issue , 4 (9), pp 656-661

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2013.4469

Publication Date (Web): Aug 10, 2013

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: atul.tiwari@hawaii.edu

Abstract

This communication describes the development of graphene and graphene reinforced polyvinylester nanocomposites. Low concentration of graphene was incorporated in the polymer matrix with the help of two different solvents. The role of solvent in the nanocomposite was studied. The FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy have supported the presence of graphene in the nanocomposites. It was discovered that vehicular medium (i.e., solvent) plays a vital role in the properties of the ultimate nanocomposites. When dimethylacetamide was used as solvent, the morphological analysis suggested the increased toughness while in case when tetrahydrofuran was used as solvent, nanocomposite appeared brittle in nature.

Keywords

Graphene, polyvinyl ester, nanocomposites, spectroscopy, morphology.