Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Functionalised Graphene Sheet Nanocomposites Prepared by the in Situ Polymerisation Method

Abstract

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/functionalised graphene sheet (FGS) nanocomposites were prepared by an in situ polymerisation method. The synthesised TPU/FGS nanocomposites were fully characterised by FT-IR, TEM, TGA, DSC, DMA, and by measurements of electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. The results indicated that the chemical and/or physical interactions between FGS and TPU were enhanced in the nanocomposites prepared by the in situ polymerisation method, and were compared to those of an earlier study which were prepared by physical mixing. Thermogravimetry showed that the degree of TPU adherence onto the FGS increased when the nanocomposite was prepared by the in situ polymerisation method. There were pronounced modulus enhancements and decreases in tensile strength and elongation at break as a result of incorporating FGS. The FGS, well dispersed in the TPU matrix, effectively improved the electrical conductivity; the nanocomposite containing 2 parts FGS per 100 parts TPU had an electrical conductivity of 2.07×103 S/cm, about 108 times higher than that of the pristine TPU.