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Abstract
We have investigated melt blending approaches to interfacial localization of few-layer graphene in cocontinuous polymer blends with polyethylene as one of the components. When linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/polylactic acid (PLA) and graphene were mixed all together, graphene preferred polyethylene over PP or PLA. When PP and graphene were premixed and blended with polyethylene, some graphene was trapped at the blend interface but not enough to cover the large interfacial area. In contrast, an ultralow electrical percolation was achieved (< 0.1 vol%) in HDPE/PLA blend due to smaller interfacial area. In another approach, polystyrene was added as a tertiary minor component to HDPE/PLA blends. This continuous interfacial layer containing graphene led to a low electrical percolation threshold (< 0.2 vol%). From these investigations, we suggest general ways to reduce a percolation threshold by kinetic control of the morphology of cocontinuous polymer blends.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e16579 |
Pages (from-to) | e16579 |
Journal | AIChE Journal |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The Petroleum Institute of Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the UAE, Grant/ Award Number: Joint Polymer Processing Research Program; NSF, Grant/Award Number: DMR-1420013; University of Minnesota
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Petroleum Institute of Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the UAE through its Joint Polymer Processing Research Program with the University of Minnesota. Parts of this work were carried out at the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility, which receives partial support from the NSF through the MRSEC (DMR-1420013), ERC, MRI, and NNIN programs and the CSE through the OVPR program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Keywords
- cocontinuous polymer blends
- conductive polymer nanocomposites
- electrical percolation
- graphene
- preferential localization
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University of Minnesota MRSEC (DMR-1420013)
Lodge, T. P. (PI)
11/1/14 → 10/31/20
Project: Research project