Electrical and mechanical properties of antistatic PVC films containing multi-layer graphene

In order to explore practical application of graphene as novel conductive fillers in the filed of composite materials, we prepared anti-static multi-layer graphene (MLG) filled poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composite films by using conventional melt-mixing method, and investigated electrical conductivity, tensile behavior, and thermal properties of the MLG/PVC composite films. We found that the presence of MLG can greatly increase electrical conductivity of the MLG/PVC composites, and the surface electrical conductivity of the MLG/PVC composites is less than 3 × 108 Ohm/square when the MLG loading is about 3.5 wt%, meeting anti-static requirement for commercial anti-static PVC films. On the other hand, the MLG/PVC composites exhibited higher tensile modulus and higher glass transition temperature than neat PVC, which is closely associated with crumpled morphology of the MLG and good compatibility between components of the MLG/PVC composites. By virtue of its satisfied anti-static performance and high mechanical properties, the MLG/PVC composites exhibit great potential to be used as high-performance antistatic materials in many fields.