Preparation and Surface Characterization of Highly Ordered Polymer/Graphite Nanosheet Composites

Abstract

Graphite nanosheets obtained from sonicating expanded graphite were coated chemically with magnetite nanoparticles. The modified graphite nanosheets were dispersed in epoxy or unsaturated polyester prepolymer, and subjected to a magnetic field before the suspension solidified. Composites with graphite nanosheets of highly ordered alignment have been prepared via the described approach. Several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy were used to characterize the modified graphite nanosheets and the polymer/graphite nanosheet composites.

Keywords:

• Alignment
• Assembly
• Conducting composite
• Expanded graphite
• Epoxy resin
• Graphite nanosheet
• Graphite flake
• Magnetic field
• Magnetite
• Nanocomposite
• Nanoparticles
• Orientation
• Polymer composite
• Thermosetting resin
• Unsaturated polyester

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank for the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20574025) and of Fujian Province (2005HZ01-4), and the NCET project.