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Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 11969

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Guilhermino Fechine

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Guest Editor

Mackenzie Institute for Research in Graphene and Nanotechnologies-MackGraphe, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Rua da Consolacão, 896, Sao Paulo, SP CEP 01302-907, Brazil
Interests: interactions between polymers and 2D materials; polymeric nanocomposites mechanical, electrical, thermo, tribological and biological properties

Dr. Ricardo J. E. Andrade

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Guest Editor

Mackenzie Institute for Research in Graphene and Nanotechnologies - MackGraphe, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: Polymer nanocomposites; rheology; multifunctional materials, nanofluids; suspensions, coatings.

Dr. Marino Lavorgna

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Guest Editor

Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, P.le Fermi, 1-80055 Portici NA, Italy
Interests: polymer nanocomposites; thermoset-resins; multifunctional nanostructured materials; carbonaceous fillers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ultra-thin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, often described as 2D graphene-related materials, represent an emerging class of nanomaterials that possess sheet-like structures with a lateral size up to a few micrometres and even larger, but the thickness is only a single or few atoms thick (typically less than 5 nm). The individual characteristics of these materials have opened up a range of possibilities for using these materials as fillers for polymers, presenting an extraordinary advantage over other nanomaterials due to their extremely large surface area. Therefore, even a very low content leads to significant improvements or, in some case, to new advanced materials. In this context, the improvements in properties and/or the insertion of new properties, such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, biological, and electromagnetic properties, among others, when using these 2DMs favour the development of multifunctional polymeric materials. Interestingly, this is shown in a variety of composite materials in the capability to detect several environmental triggers, such as force, heat, UV-visible and infrared wavelengths, matter states such as gases, vapours, liquids and others, which allows the realisation of multi-sensing systems. Both multifunctional and multi-sensing materials based on 2D graphene-related materials will represent, in the immediate future, new opportunities to combat societal challenges, mainly driven with a focus on citizens, with a new sustainable approach.

This Special Issue is dedicated to presenting novel approaches to the synthesis, processing, and characterisation of multifunctional polymer composites based on two-dimensional fillers including graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), Mxeni, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), layered metal oxides, and layered double hydroxides (LDHs), as well as the related hybrid structures.

Prof. Guilhermino Fechine
Prof. Ricardo J. E. Andrade
Dr. Marino Lavorgna
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymer nanocomposites
2D graphene-related materials
synthesis
processing
characterisation
multifunctional and multisensing materials.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 8315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photooxidative Behavior of Polystyrene Nanocomposites Filled with Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide

by Aurianny Lima Angulo, Camila Laura Celis Rodriguez and Guilhermino José Macedo Fechine

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2099; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15092099 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 976

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how an ultralow content of a molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) two-dimensional particle affects the photodegradation mechanism of polystyrene (PS). Here, an accelerated weathering study was presented on neat polystyrene and its nanocomposites produced with 0.001, 0.002, 0.003 and 0.005 wt% of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) exposed for various irradiation intervals (up to 8 weeks). The polymer photo-transformations were monitored using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The FTIR and UV/Vis results indicate that the PS degradation mechanism was not altered by the presence of MoS₂ particles; however, the degradation reactions were slowed down at higher MoS₂ contents (>0.003%). The SEC results proved the stabilizer effect due to MoS₂ particles, where

{\bar{M}}_{n}

{\bar{M}}_{w}

, and

{\bar{M}}_{w}

{\bar{M}}_{n}

values after 8 weeks were less modified when compared with the neat PS results. The MoS₂ acted as a UV stabilizer, and these two-dimensional particles acted by deactivating the free radicals generated by the PS matrix, even considering the low amount of the filler (<0.005 wt%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials)

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20 pages, 8048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Sonication Processing Conditions on Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Single and Hybrid Epoxy Nanocomposites Filled with Carbon Nanoparticles

by Matheus Mendes de Oliveira, Sven Forsberg, Linnéa Selegård and Danilo Justino Carastan

Polymers 2021, 13(23), 4128; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13234128 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2768

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are used to enhance electrical and mechanical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites. Despite the evidence of synergetic effects in the hybrid GNP-CNT-epoxy system, there is still a lack of studies that focus on the influence of different dispersion methods on the final properties of these ternary systems. In the present work, direct and indirect ultrasonication methods were used to prepare single- and hybrid-filled GNP-CNT-epoxy nanocomposites, varying the amplitude and time of sonication in order to investigate their effect on electrical and thermomechanical properties. Impedance spectroscopy was combined with rheology and electron microscopy to show that high-power direct sonication tends to degrade electrical conductivity in GNP-CNT-epoxy nanocomposites due to damage caused in the nanoparticles. CNT-filled samples were mostly benefitted by low-power direct sonication, achieving an electrical conductivity of 1.3 × 10⁻³ S·m⁻¹ at 0.25 wt.% loading, while indirect sonication was not able to properly disperse the CNTs and led to a conductivity of 1.6 ± 1.3 × 10⁻⁵. Conversely, specimens filled with 2.5 wt. % of GNP and processed by indirect sonication displayed an electrical conductivity that is up to 4 orders of magnitude higher than when processed by direct sonication, achieving 5.6 × 10⁻⁷ S·m⁻¹. The introduction of GNP flakes improved the dispersion state and conductivity in hybrid specimens processed by indirect sonication, but at the same time impaired these properties for high-power direct sonication. It is argued that this contradictory effect is caused by a selective localization of shorter CNTs onto GNPs due to strong π-π interactions when direct sonication is used. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the addition of nanofillers improved epoxy’s storage modulus by up to 84%, but this property is mostly insensitive to the different processing parameters. Decrease in crosslinking degree and presence of residual solvent confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, however, diminished the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites by up to 40% when compared to the neat resin due to plasticization effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials)

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14 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mode II Fracture Analysis of GNP/Epoxy Nanocomposite Film on a Substrate

by Shiuh-Chuan Her and Kai-Chun Zhang

Polymers 2021, 13(16), 2823; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13162823 - 22 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2053

Abstract

Epoxy resin with excellent mechanical properties, chemical stability, and corrosion resistance has been widely used in automotive and aerospace industries. A thin film of epoxy deposited on a substrate has great application in adhesive bonding and protective coating. However, the intrinsic brittleness of epoxy with a relatively low fracture toughness limits its applications. In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were added to the epoxy resin to enhance its toughness, hardness, and elastic modulus. A series of nanocomposites with different loadings of GNP were fabricated. Ultrasonic sonication in combination with surfactant Triton X-100 were employed to disperse GNP in the epoxy matrix. A nanocomposite film with a thickness of 0.3 mm was deposited on an Al substrate using a spinning coating technology. The hardness and elastic modulus of the nanocomposite film on the Al substrate were experimentally measured by a nanoindentation test. Analytical expression of the mode II interfacial fracture toughness for the nanocomposite film on an Al substrate with an interfacial edge crack was derived utilizing the linear elastic fracture mechanics and Euler’s beam theory. End-notched flexure (ENF) tests were conducted to evaluate the mode II fracture toughness. It was found that the hardness, elastic modulus, and mode II fracture toughness of the nanocomposite film reinforced with 1 wt % of GNP were improved by 71.8%, 63.2%, and 44.4%, respectively, compared with the pure epoxy. The presence of much stiff GNP in the soft epoxy matrix prompts toughening mechanisms such as crack deflection and crack pinning, resulting in the improvements of the fracture toughness, hardness, and elastic modulus. Microscopic observation for the nanocomposite was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the dispersion of GNPs in the epoxy matrix. The performance of a nanocomposite film deposited on a substrate was rarely studied, in particular, for the interfacial fracture toughness of the film/substrate composite structure. Utilizing the theoretical model in conjunction with the ENF experimental test presented in this study, an accurate determination of the mode II interfacial fracture toughness of film/substrate composite structure is made possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials)

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16 pages, 4254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Graphene Nanoplatelet Lateral Size on the Electrical Conductivity and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performance of Polyester Nanocomposites

by Milad Madinehei, Scheyla Kuester, Tatiana Kaydanova, Nima Moghimian and Éric David

Polymers 2021, 13(15), 2567; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13152567 - 31 Jul 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2226

Abstract

Polyester nanocomposites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) with two different lateral sizes are prepared by high shear mixing, followed by compression molding. The effects of the size and concentration of GnP, as well as of the processing method, on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding behavior of these nanocomposites are experimentally investigated. The in-plane electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites with larger-size GnPs is approximately one order of magnitude higher than the cross-plane volume conductivity. According to the SEM images, the compression-induced alignments of GnPs is found to be responsible for this anisotropic behavior. The orientation of the small size GnPs in the composite is not influenced by the compression process as strongly, and consequently, the electrical conductivity of these nanocomposites exhibits only a slight anisotropy. The maximum EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 27 dB (reduction of 99.8% of the incident radiation) is achieved at 25 wt.% of the smaller-size GnP loading. Experimental results show that the EMI shielding mechanism of these composites has a strong dependency on the lateral dimension of GnPs. The non-aligned smaller-size GnPs are leveraged to obtain a relatively high absorption coefficient (≈40%). This absorption coefficient is superior to the existing single-filler bulk polymer composite with a similar thickness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials)

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Graphical abstract

14 pages, 3161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Tribological-Performance Polymer Nanocomposites: An Approach Based on the Superlubricity State of the Graphene Oxide Agglomerates

by Eder H. C. Ferreira, Angela Aparecida Vieira, Lúcia Vieira and Guilhermino J. M. Fechine

Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2237; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13142237 - 08 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2341

Abstract

Here, nanocomposites of high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMWPE) and HMWPE-UHMWPE (80/20 wt.%) containing a low amount of multilayer graphene oxide (mGO) (≤0.1 wt.%) were produced via twin-screw extrusion to produce materials with a higher tribological performance than UHMWPE. Due to the high viscosity of both polymers, the nanocomposites presented a significant concentration of agglomerates. However, the mechanical (tensile) and tribological (volumetric loss) performances of the nanocomposites were superior to those of UHMWPE. The morphology of the nanocomposites was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microtomography, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The explanation for these results is based on the superlubricity phenomenon of mGO agglomerates. It was also shown that the well-exfoliated mGO also contained in the nanocomposite was of fundamental importance as a mechanical reinforcement for the polymer. Even with a high concentration of agglomerates, the nanocomposites displayed tribological properties superior to UHMWPE’s (wear resistance up to 27% higher and friction coefficient up to 57% lower). Therefore, this manuscript brings a new exception to the rule, showing that agglomerates can act in a beneficial way to the mechanical properties of polymers, as long as the superlubricity phenomenon is present in the agglomerates contained in the polymer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composites Based on 2D Graphene Related Materials)

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