Study on the structure and properties of Poly(methylmethacrylate)/Polypyrrole-Graphene Oxide nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

In this paper Poly(methylmethacrylate)/Polypyrrole-Graphene Oxide (PMMA/PPy-GO) nanocomposites were prepared using in-situ chemical polymerization method and its structure and properties were studied. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed that PPy nanopraticles covered the GO nanosheets surface and PMMA/PPy-GO nanocomposite were prepared successfully. The mechanical, electrical and thermal stability of the PMMA nanocomposites were also investigated using Tensile, Impact, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and four-point probe methods. Correlation between direct morphological observation and final properties demonstrated that network structure formed by PPy-GOs in PMMA matrix. Tensile analysis showed that the addition of 0.4 wt % PPy-GO hybrids lead to 24.4 % enhancement in the Young’s modulus of PMMA compared to 5.0 % improvement that achieved at the same loading level of GO. Electrical conductivity measurement showed that dispersion of PPy-GO in PMMA matrix increased AC conductivity in the range of 8 orders of magnitude compared to PMMA. TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of the PMMA nanocomposites improved over 20 ̊C.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Nanocomposite
• PPy-GO
• graphene oxide
• final properties

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the main financial resource received from Iran National Science Foundation; contract No. 94001312.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mehdi Sharif

Mehdi Sharif is an associate Professor of polymer processing at the Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch. After a PhD in Sahand University of Technology in 2016 he became assistant professor of polymer engineering at Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch. His research is focused on synthesis, characterization and application of conductive polymer, hybrid nanostructure, graphene or its derivative and their applications in polymer blend or composite.Mehdi Sharif (born in Abadeh, Iran in 1983) received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry in 2005 at the Islamic Azad University shahreza Branch. He obtained his MS and PhD degree in 2008 and 2016 at the Sahand University of Technology, respectively. He performed his MS research in the field of polymer processing which included ternary polymer blend: processing and rheological properties under the supervision of Professor Mir Karim Razavi Aghjeh. He performed his PhD research in the field of  negative photoresist filled by Graphene nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and lithography under the supervision of Professor Behzad Pourabbas. Mehdi Sharif started his career at Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch in 2011 Department of polymer engineerind. He is associated professor of polymer engineering and active in above research fields now.