Preparation and characterization of graphene and graphene oxide nanocomposites using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ABS as a polymer matrix

Abstract

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a polymer which is used in many applications in electronic appliance, kitchen appliance and automobile industry. Enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties of ABS polymer is a requirement for its usability. Enhancement of mechanical properties of pure Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) polymer by with incorporation of Graphene and Graphene Oxide as nanofiller has been observed. ABS/G and ABS/GO nanocomposites were prepared using both solution and melt mixing method. Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties has been observed which confirms uniform dispersion and intercalation of Graphene and Graphene Oxide in ABS polymer. The effect of weight percentages (wt%) of nanofiller on ABS polymer properties has been studied. An increase in weight content of Graphene (1 6 wt%) enhances the dispersion up to certain limit (5 wt%) and thereafter it agglomerates (6 wt%) diminishing its mechanical properties. Similarly Graphene oxide agglomerated after 4 wt %. Consistencies in X-Ray Diffraction, Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and mechanical results are observed. newlineNanoindentation technique was used for static and dynamic mechanical characterization of pure ABS and both the types of ABS/G and ABS/GO nanocomposites. From Nano Indentation results, it is evident that the Elastic Modulus is improved by 118.5 percent as compared to pure ABS. Nano hardness is observed to be improved by 131 percent for 5 wt % ABS/G samples. Elastic Modulus is improved by 54.9 percent as compared to pure ABS. newline newline