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Graphene-based masterbatch obtained via modified polyvinyl alcohol liquid-shear exfoliation and its application in enhanced polymer composites

2017; Elsevier BV; Volume: 134; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.matdes.2017.08.032

1873-4197

Douglas Alexandre Simon, Eveline Bischoff, G.G. Buonocore, Pierfrancesco Cerruti, Maria Grazia Raucci, Hesheng Xia, Henri Stephan Schrekker, Marino Lavorgna, Luigi Ambrosio, Raquel S. Mauler,

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

A simple and inexpensive method for the production of graphene-based masterbatch via polymer-assisted shear exfoliation of graphite in water was comprehensively investigated. In detail, a modified polyvinyl alcohol (mPVOH) characterized by surface energy comparable with that of graphene was used as surfactant for the production of graphene-like particles. The proposed approach allowed a yield in graphene-like particles higher than that obtained by using common surfactants, along with a narrower size distribution. A mPVOH-masterbatch containing 4.38 wt% of graphene-like particles was produced by removing the aqueous solvent from a dispersion and directly used for production of polymer nanocomposites by melt processing. Films prepared by blending the masterbatch with polyvinyl alcohol in order to have a graphene-like particles content equal to 0.3 wt% showed a 78% reduction in water permeability and a 48% increase in storage modulus as compared with pristine polymers. Improved barrier properties were also observed for polylactic acid (PLA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based composite films, whereas an increment of about 520% in the storage modulus was observed for the composite obtained with PLA. The obtained results are very relevant and the proposed process will open up a new pathway for using graphene-based masterbatch in the packaging industry.