Preparation of UV-curable functionalized graphene/polyurethane acrylate nanocomposite with enhanced thermal and mechanical behaviors

Functionalized graphene nanosheets (f-GNSs) were synthesized by a simple covalent functionalization of graphene with 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTES). The results from FTIR, XPS and XRD showed that MPTES was successfully attached onto the surface of graphene. Functionalized graphene/polyurethane acrylate (f-GNS/PUA) nanocomposites were prepared by UV radiation of PUA with f-GNS. The onset thermal degradation temperature of f-GNS/PUA nanocomposite was increased by 16 °C, at an f-GNS content of 1 wt%. Meanwhile, the storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites were enhanced by incorporating f-GNS into the PUA. This is believed to be attributed to that the covalent functionalization of graphene can improve both the dispersion of f-GNSs in the polymer matrix and the interfacial interactions between f-GNSs and PUA.