In situ thermal reduction of graphene oxide in a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene triblock copolymer via melt blending

We report an in situ thermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) in a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer matrix during a melt-blending process. A relatively high degree of reduction was achieved by melt-blending premixed GO/SEBS nanocomposites in a Haake mixer for 25 min at 225 degrees C. Infrared spectral results revealed the successful thermal reduction of, and the strong adsorption of SEBS on, the graphene sheets. The glass transition temperature of polystyrene (PS) segments in SEBS was enhanced by the incorporation of thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO). The resultant TRGO/SEBS nanocomposites were used as a masterbatch to improve the mechanical properties of PS. Both the elongation at break and the flexural strength of PS/SEBS blends were enhanced with the addition of the TRGO. Our demonstration of the in situ thermal reduction of GO via melt blending is a simple, efficient strategy for preparing nanocomposites with well-dispersed TRGO in the polymer matrix, which could be an important route for large-scale fabrication of high-performance graphene/polymer nanocomposites. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry