Method for making polymer composites containing graphene sheets
In one embodiment, a method for producing a graphene-containing composition is provided, the method comprising: (i) mixing a graphene oxide with a medium to form a mixture; and (ii) heating the mixture to a temperature above about 40° C., whereby a graphene-containing composition is formed from the mixture. Composites of polymers with disperse functionalized graphene sheets and the applications thereof are also described.
1. A method for producing a graphene-containing product that includes a graphene-containing component, comprising:
(i) mixing graphene oxide with a medium to form a mixture, wherein the medium comprises a polymer or a precursor thereof; and
(ii) heating the mixture to a temperature equal to or above 140° C. and equal to or below 250° C.,
wherein said graphene-containing product comprises a polymer;
wherein the weight ratio of said polymer to said graphene-containing component in said graphene-containing product is equal to or greater than twenty to one;
wherein said step of heating is sufficient to transform said graphene oxide into a graphene-containing component and conducted for a sufficient time to transform said graphene oxide into said graphene-containing component; and
wherein the atomic carbon to oxygen ratio in said graphene-containing component is greater than about 4.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (ii) is carried out in open air.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (ii) is carried out for less than or equal to about 4 hours.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (ii) is selectively applied to the mixture such that at least one localized region having a relative increase in graphene concentration is formed in the mixture.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein compared to the graphene oxide, the graphene-containing component formed after step (ii) has at least one of: enhanced modulus, greater load at failure, increased hardness, improved elongation properties, reduced gas permeability, enhanced thermal processing, and enhanced electrical and electromagnetic field properties.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein compared to the graphene oxide, the graphene-containing component formed after step (ii) has an increased electrical conductivity.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphene-containing component is in the form of at least one nanoparticle.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the atomic carbon to oxygen ratio of graphene oxide.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said graphene-containing product is a foam.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said graphene-containing product comprises a conductive surface.