Functionalized graphene nanoplatelets for enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethane nanocomposites

In the evolution of high performance graphene-based polymer nanocomposites, homogeneous dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets in the polymer matrix and exact interface control are difficult to achieve due to the potent interlayer cohesive energy and surface inactiveness of the nanocomposites. Herein, we present an effective way to fabricate high performance polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites via the incorporation of functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNP) during in situ polymerization. The f-GNP/PU nanocomposites exhibited a significant improvement in terms of their mechanical, thermal, and shape recovery properties. The modulus of the f-GNP/PU nanocomposites at 2 wt% graphene nanoplatelets loading is ten times greater than that of the pure PU sample. The breaking stress and shape recovery showed a highly improving trend with increasing wt% of f-GNP. An unprecedented enhancement of thermal stability at 30 °C compared to the pure PU is also found at 2 wt% loading of f-GNP via in situ polymerization.

► An effective way to fabricate high performance polymer nanocomposites via incorporation of the functionalized graphene nanoplatelets. ► Homogeneous dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets in the polymer matrix and interface control in the nanocomposites. ► An improvement in the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and shape recovery properties.