Enhanced properties of poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene) nanocomposites with in situ construction of interconnected graphene network

In this work, such elastomeric nanocomposites were fabricated with graphene (GE) sheets selectively distributing between polymer matrices and forming three-dimensional networks. The solvent evaporation process was first introduced to produce poly(styrene-ethylene-co-butadiene-b-styrene) (SEBS) microspheres and then reduced GE oxide attached to the surface of SEBS microspheres via electrostatic interaction and sonication-assisted reduction. The microstructure of nanocomposites, prepared by compression molding using SEBS/GE microspheres, was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that interconnected GE networks formed in heat-pressing composite and was destroyed after twin-roll mixing. The SEBS/GE nanocomposites showed enhanced electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The electrical resistivity of nanocomposites obtained via heat-pressing reached to 1.1x10(3)m at a 2.5 wt % (1.07vol %) content of GE. The thermal and mechanical properties were also characterized. It was found that the initial degradation temperature increased by nearly 40 degrees C and the mechanical properties continued to rise with GE content below 0.5 wt %. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47118.