Graphene polyethylene terephthalate composite for improving reheat energy consumption
A graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition is provided for forming graphene-PET containers. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition includes a continuous matrix comprising polyethylene terephthalate and a dispersed reinforcement phase comprising graphene nanoplatelets. The graphene nanoplatelets range in diameter between 5 μm and 10 μm with surface areas ranging from about 15 m 2 /g to about 150 m 2 /g. In some embodiments, the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate comprises a concentration of graphene nanoplatelets being substantially 3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate is configured to be injection molded into a graphene-PET preform suitable for forming a container. The graphene-PET preform is configured to be reheated above its glass transition temperature and blown into a mold so as to shape the graphene-PET preform into the container.
1. A graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition, comprising:
a continuous matrix comprising polyethylene terephthalate; and
a dispersed reinforcement phase comprising graphene nanoplatelets at a concentration of substantially 3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition,
wherein the graphene nanoplatelets have a diameter of about 10 μm with surface areas ranging between about 15 m 2 /g and about 150 m 2 /g.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the graphene nanoplatelets comprise a number of layers of two-dimensional mono-atomic carbon sheets ranging ranges between substantially 1 layer and 7 layers.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the number of layers ranges between substantially 1 layer and 4 layers.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene terephthalate comprises neat PET.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene terephthalate comprises recycled PET.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition is configured to be injection molded into a graphene-PET preform suitable for forming a container.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the graphene-PET preform is configured to be reheated above its glass transition temperature and blown into a mold so as to shape the graphene-PET preform into the container.