Solution blending preparation of polycarbonate/graphene composite: boosting the mechanical and electrical properties

TL;DR

This paper presents a scalable solution blending method to prepare polycarbonate/graphene composites, significantly enhancing their mechanical and electrical properties for potential 3D printing applications.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, scalable solution blending process using environmentally friendly solvents to disperse graphene flakes in polycarbonate, improving properties.

Findings

26% increase in elastic modulus at 1 wt% graphene loading

Electrical conductivity of 10^-3 S/m at 10 wt% graphene loading

Percolation threshold at 0.55 vol% graphene

Abstract

We report on the preparation of polycarbonate-based graphene (PC/G) composites, by using a simple and scalable solution blending method to disperse single (SLG) and few layer (FLG) graphene flakes, prepared by liquid phase exfoliation (LPE), in the polymer matrix. A solvent-exchange process is carried out to re-disperse the exfoliated SLG/FLG flakes in an environmentally friendly solvent, i.e. 1,3dioxolane, which is also used to dissolve the polycarbonate pellets, thus facilitating the mixing of the polymer dispersion with the SLG/FLG flakes. The loading of SLG/FLG flakes improves the mechanical and thermal properties, as well as the electrical conductivity of the polymer, reaching a +26% improvement of the elastic modulus at 1 wt% loading, and an electrical conductivity 10^-3 S m^-1 at 10 wt% with a percolation threshold achieved at 0.55 vol%. The as-prepared PC/G composite with the aforementioned reinforced properties can be a promising material for 3D printing-based applications.