Toughened Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate) by Melt Compounding with Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

Abstract

Functionalized graphene oxide (fGO) nanoplates were added to the Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) matrix by melt mixing. The mechanical property and deformation mechanism of PTT/fGO nanocomposites were studied. Addition of a small amount of fGO in PTT improves remarkably tensile properties. The elongation break of PTT/fGO increased with addition of fGO in PTT matrix owing to preferential interaction between groups of fGO and PTT matrix.. The fracture mechanism is identified by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) ananlysis of the fracture surfaces. FGO in PTT/fGO nanocomposites were homogenously dispersed in PTT matrix, indicating that the function of fGO improve the compatibility between PTT and fGO.