Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposites: Mechanical and Barrier Properties

This work consists of studying the influence of two thermally reduced graphene oxides (TRGOs), containing oxygen levels of 15.8% and 8.9%, as fillers on the barrier properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites prepared by melt-mixing processes. The oxygen contents of the TRGOs were obtained by carrying out the thermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at 600 degrees C and 1000 degrees C, respectively. The presence and contents of oxygen in the TRGO samples were determined by XPS and their structural differences were determined by using X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy. In spite of the decrease of the elongation at break of the nanocomposites, the Young modulus was increased by up to 320% with the addition of TRGO. The barrier properties of the nanocomposites were enhanced as was evidenced by the decrease of the permeability to oxygen, which reached levels as low as -46.1%.

Automated summary

This study investigates the influence of two thermally reduced graphene oxides with different oxygen levels on the barrier properties of TPU nanocomposites. The addition of TRGO increased the Young modulus of the composites and enhanced their barrier properties, leading to a significant decrease in oxygen permeability.