Evaluation of Conducting and Tensile Properties of Reduced Graphene Oxide/ Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (Rgo/Pbat) Nanocomposites

Abstract

This study was focused on evaluation of conducting and tensile properties of rGO/ Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) nanocomposite intended to use in electronic applications which require biodegradability. This study was also considered to be worthwhile since very little work has been done in this regard so far. PBAT was specifically selected for the study as it is an extensively used biodegradable polymer for variety of applications. The solvent casting method was employed to prepare rGO/PBAT nanocomposites where rGO was dispersed in a solution of PBAT by ultrasonication followed by evaporation of the solvent components. Electrical conductivity (σ) of rGO/PBAT nanocomposites showed a percolation behavior as rGO content was increased from the 0.5 % to 1.5 % (σ increased drastically with the increase of rGO content). The percolation threshold was approximately 0.0045, (i.e., 0.75 w/w % of rGO). The average critical exponent (t) related to the percolation theory was 1.49 ± 0.19 which is well within the expected range 1< t < 2. According to impedance studies, the electrical impedance of GO/PBAT composites decreased with the increasing rGO content, which agreed well with the behavior of the electrical conductivity investigated previously. The same equivalent circuit was shown by each composite except the values for constant phase element CPE and resistor R; the equivalent electrical circuit was a parallel combination of CPE and R. The dielectric analysis of the composites indicated that dielectric parameters ϵ”, ϵ’ and dissipation factor increased significantly with increasing rGO content. The tensile strength of the composites was better than that of neat PBAT up to 1.5 % of rGO loading and decreased on further increasing of rGO. However, their tensile strain at break decreased with increasing rGO content. The results indicated that PBAT/rGO polymer composite is promising candidate for various electronic applications.