Authors: H Fukushima L T Drzal B P Rook M J Rich
Publish Date: 2006/07/03
Volume: 85, Issue: 1, Pages: 235-238
Abstract
Since the late 1990’s research has been reported where intercalated expanded and/or exfoliated graphite nanoflakes could also be used as reinforcements in polymer systems The key point to utilizing graphite as a platelet nanoreinforcement is in the ability to exfoliate graphite using Graphite Intercalated Compounds GICs Natural graphite is still abundant and its cost is quite low compared to the other nano–size carbon materials the cost of producing graphite nanoplatelets is expected to be ~5/lb This is significantly less expensive than single wall nanotubes SWNT 45000/lb or vapor grown carbon fiber VGCF 40–50/lb yet the mechanical electrical and thermal properties of crystalline graphite flakes are comparable to those of SWNT and VGCF The use of exfoliated graphite flakes xGnP opens up many new applications where electromagnetic shielding high thermal conductivity gas barrier resistance or low flammability are requiredA special thermal treatment was developed to exfoliate graphite flakes for the production of nylon and high density polypropylene nanocomposites Xray diffraction XRD scanning electron microscopy SEM and transmission electron microscopy TEM were used to assess the degree of exfoliation of the graphite platelets and the morphology of the nanocomposites The thermal conductivity of these composites was investigated by three different methods namely by DSC modified hot wire and halogen flash lamp methods The addition of small amounts of exfoliated graphite flakes showed a marked improvement in thermal and electrical conductivity of the composites
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