Expanded graphite filled polymer composites

• Main Author: Repasi, Ivett
• Published: Queen's University Belfast 2011
• Subjects: 620.198
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.557649

The aim of this project was to produce expanded graphite (EO) and modified EO-filled electrically conductive polymer composites and to investigate the effects of different additive modifications and preparation conditions on the microstructure and electrical properties of these composites. Modifications included the use of dry blending and ultrasound to reduce their size, use of various suspension media and surfactants to stabilize particle suspensions. To compare the effectiveness of different filler modification processes on electrical conductivity, unmodified and treated EO were incorporated into polypropylene (PP) by melt mixing and EO based dispersions were used to make polyvinyl alcohol (PV A) composites by solution casting. The PP composites were made using various processing methods and conditions at filler concentrations up to 12 wt%, while the polyvinyl alcohol samples contained graphite concentrations up to 8 wt%. To analyse the crystalline morphology of sample and the dispersion of the filler in the composites samples were analysed by light and electron microscopy, DSC and X-ray diffraction. TOA was also used to investigate the thermal stability of the composites. It was found that the presence of graphite, significantly changed the crystal morphology of PP. Solution mixed PVA samples showed improved dispersion and the particle size was effectively reduced.