Conductive graphite/polyurethane composite films using amphiphilic reactive dispersant: Synthesis and characterization

Well-dispersed and conductive graphite (GP)/polymer composites films were fabricated using two different polymerizable amphiphilic dispersion agents namely urethane acrylate nonionomer (UAN) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) modified urethane acrylate (PMUA). Our GP/polymer composites were fabricated via in situ polymerization of unmodified GP and UAN or PMUA mixtures where UAN and PMUA acted not only as dispersion agents but also as macromonomer for the formation of the polymeric matrix. Dispersibility of GP in the polymeric matrix strongly depended on the type of amphiphilic dispersion agent, which was confirmed by SEM measurements. Fabricated composite films exhibited electrical conductivities of 10−1 S/cm for UAN and 10−2 S/cm for PMUA at 50 wt% of GP loading. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the introduction of graphite exhibits a beneficial effect on the thermal stability of poly(UAN) and poly(PMUA).