Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Mechanical properties Crystallization and Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Poly (ethylene g-

Abstract The excellent electrical property of PE/graphene has potential for applications such as electromagnetic-reflective materials and semiconductor layers in high voltage cables. Poly(ethylene-g-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) graphene nanoplatelets (xGn) (PEMA–xGn) composites were prepared by melt mixing process in an internal batch mixer. The tensile test demonstrated that the PEMA-xGn composites shows higher tensile modulus and strength than neat PEMA composites. xGn influenced dynamic mechanical properties of PEMA–xGn composites. It was observed that the increase of xGn in PEMA matrix up to 1 wt. % increased the modulus. It was also revealed that the α-, β- and γ- transitions of the PEMA were affected by polymer chain branching and graphene nanoplatelets. These could be attributed to interactions and potentially bond formations between xGn and the maleic anhydride of PEMA as well as crystalline behavior of the nanocomposites. Crystallization temperature was enhanced, as a result of heterogeneous nucleation by xGn. Keywords-), , , , ,