POLY (ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)-GRAPHENE NANOCOMPOSITES FROM IMPROVED DISPERSION

摘要

A composition and a method are provided for graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Graphene nanoplatelets comprising a suitable surface area are added to a dispersion medium for producing graphene reinforced PET. The average surface area may range between substantially 15 m²/g and 750 m²/g. In some embodiments, the dispersion medium may be comprised of ethylene glycol. The dispersion medium and graphene nanoplatelets are sonicated to disperse the nanoplatelets within the dispersion medium. The dispersion medium and graphene nanoplatelets are centrifuged to remove larger nanoplatelets that are not suitably dispersed within the dispersion medium. A supernatant solution of dispersed graphene nanoplatelets and dispersion medium is decanted and then used for polymerization of the graphene reinforced PET. The resultant graphene reinforced PET is comprised of a continuous matrix of PET with a reinforcement material comprising dispersed phase graphene nanoplatelets.