Graphene reinforced polymer composite production

In this thesis, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films containing graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene (rGO) and and epoxy nanocomposites containing graphene were produced. First, graphene oxide was produced by the developed Hummers method and then mixed with 0.05 wt%, 0.1 wt%, 0.25 wt%, 0.5 wt% and 1.0 wt% of 5 wt% PVA to obtain GO/PVA solution. Then, obtained GO/PVA solution was filmed. rGO/PVA nanocomposites werre obtained by reducing the prepared GO/PVA solution with acscorbic acid (AA). Graphene/epoxy nanocomposites were obtained by adding 0.05 wt%, 0.1 wt%, 0.25 wt%, 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% of graphene to the epoxy after obtaining a homogenous dispersion and curing by adding the hardener. The properties of all nanocomposite films were examined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer and chemical conductivity measuments. When electrical properties are evaluated, addition of 1 wt% GO and rGO resulted 36% and 45%, decrease in the volumetric resistance of PVA films as well as surface resistance decreased 24.5% and 34.9%, respectively. 1 wt% graphene addition resulted in a 28.2% reduction in the volume resistance value of epoxy films and a 9.7% reduction in surface resistance. In terms of mechanical properties, the maximum tensile value of graphene/epoxy nanocomposites was obtained as ~ 20 MPa with an increase of 33.84% in comparison to pure epoxy in 1% graphene additive. The average modulus of elasticity increased from 1061 MPa to 1130 MPa with an in increase of 6.5%. The maximum tensile strength of GO and rGO reinforced PVA nanocomposites was increased by 20% and 38% in the 1% graphene admixture compared to pure PVA film to ~ 59 MPa and ~ 68 MPa. The average modulus of elasticity increased from 2561 MPa to 3515 MPa and 4219 MPa with an increase of 37% and 65%, respectively. As a result of analysis and tests, it was observed that the electrical conductivity, modulus of elasticity, maximum tensile, thermal properties and UV-absorption values of nanocomposite films increased by adding GO and rGO to PVA and graphene epoxy.