Green Composites of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Containing Graphene Nanoplatelets with Desirable Electrical Conductivity and Oxygen Barrier Properties.

ABSTRACT: Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), a green polymer originating from prokaryotic microbes, has been used to prepare composites with graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) at different concentrations. The films were fabricated by drop-casting and were hot-pressed at a temperature lower than their melting point to provide the molecular chains enough energy to reorientate while avoiding melting and degradation. It was found that hot-pressing increases crystallinity and improves mechanical properties. The Young's modulus increased from 1.2 to 1.6 GPa for the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) films and from 0.5 to 2.2 GPa for the 15 wt % P(3HB)/GnP composites. Electrical resistivity decreases enormously with GnP concentration and hot-pressing, reaching 6 Ω sq^-1 for the hot-pressed 30 wt % P(3HB)/GnP compo

SUBMITTER: Papadopoulou EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6881833 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature