Functionalized Waterborne Polyurethane-Based Graphite-Reinforced Composites

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of waterborne polyurethane-based oxidized graphite- (WPUG-) reinforced composites is disclosed. The morphology-structure relations of WPUG composites are studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Prior to this, it is confirmed that, in the WPUG composites, the graphite particles containing functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxylic groups are randomly distributed and attributed to the formation of interconnected interface within the polymeric composites. This promotes enhancement in modulus and tensile strength up to ∼440% and ∼100%, respectively. Significantly, these results were correlated with viscoelastic properties in which the composites show positive response to graphite addition. Further studies in optical properties consequently attribute decreasing values in optical energy band gap (Eg) which afterwards took the leads to electrical conductivity (σ). Aptly, the composites WPUG20, WPUG25, and WPUG30 were found to possess favorable electrical conductivity through the two-point probe method. This revealed the improvement in electrical properties with promising potential as alternative petroleum-based composites to generate energy from the renewable resources and also apply greener ways for energy consumption.