(84e) Polyethylene Reinforced with Thermally Exfoliated Graphite Oxide

High surface area graphene sheets (functionalized graphene sheets, FGS) can be obtained by rapidly heating graphite oxide (Schniepp et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 8535-8539). FGS was incorporated into low density polyethylene (LLDPE) via melt and solvent processing. Dispersion was characterized with electron microscopy, melt rheology and by measuring mechanical and gas barrier properties of the composites. While solvent blending leads to slightly better dispersion, FGS layers are not as well-dispersed in LDPE as in other polymer matrices with higher polarity as indicated by higher rheological percolation thresholds and lower property gains. In order to improve interaction with surface oxygens on FGS, functional groups were introduced to LLDPE. Preliminary results indicated that functionalization of LDPE with maleic anhydride helped retain high toughness of the composites. Effects of composite processing and LLDPE functionalization on FGS dispersion will be discussed.