Cable ties employing a nylon/graphene composite

1. A cable tie comprising a composite of a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon and nylon 6 and graphene, wherein the graphene is present in the cable tie in an amount of between 0.01 wt % and 5 wt %.

2. A cable tie comprising:

a) nylon 6,6 resin,

b) a composite of a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon and nylon 6, and

c) graphene,

wherein the graphene is present in the cable tie in an amount of between 0.01 wt % and 5 wt %.

3. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is nylon.

4. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is nylon 6.

5. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein said graphene is chemically functionalized.

6. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises graphene in an amount between 1 wt % and 20 wt %.

7. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein graphene is present in the cable tie in an amount no greater than 1 wt %.

8. The cable tie of claim 1 , wherein the cable tie exhibits an elongation of 20% or greater.

9. A method of preparing a cable tie according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

chemically functionalizing purified graphene to form a chemically functionalized graphene;

dispersing the chemically functionalized graphene into a polymer matrix comprising nylon or nylon 6, via a process selected from a solution composition, melt composition, and in-situ composition technique such that a composite is formed, wherein the composite comprises graphene in an amount from 1 wt % to 20 wt %;

extruding or molding the composite to form particles;

melting particles with nylon 6,6 resin, and

molding the cable tie, wherein the cable tie comprises graphene in an amount of between 0.01 wt % and 5 wt %.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cable tie comprises graphene in an amount no greater than 1 wt %.

11. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein the polymer is nylon.

12. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein the polymer is nylon 6.

13. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein said graphene is chemically functionalized.

14. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein the composite comprises graphene in an amount between 1 wt % and 20 wt %.

15. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein graphene is present in the cable tie in an amount no greater than 1 wt %.

16. The cable tie of claim 2 , wherein the cable tie exhibits an elongation of 20% or greater.

17. A method of preparing a cable tie according to claim 2 , comprising the steps of:

chemically functionalizing purified graphene to form a chemically functionalized graphene;

dispersing the chemically functionalized graphene into a polymer matrix comprising nylon or nylon 6, via a process selected from a solution composition, melt composition, and in-situ composition technique such that a composite is formed, wherein the composite comprises graphene in an amount from 1 wt % to 20 wt %;

extruding or molding the composite to form particles;

melting particles with nylon 6,6 resin, and

molding the cable tie, wherein the cable tie comprises graphene in an amount of between 0.01 wt % and 5 wt %.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cable tie comprises graphene in an amount no greater than 1 wt %.