Obtaining and research of new composite materials polymer-graphene

This paper presents the results of computer simulation and calculations of the energy characteristics of several possible stable configurations, providing rigid connection of the polymer matrix with graphene structures in composite materials. The measurements of mechanical and electrical properties of composite sample based on several types of polymers (polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polydimethylsiloxane and epoxy resin) with fillers of graphene and its derivative nanostructures were performed. To study of samples’ structure and properties such methods of analysis as Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy and microhardness testing (Knoop method) were chosen. The results of theoretical calculations of "polymer-graphene structures" systems are in good agreement with preliminary experiments and hardness and strength measurements. Good interconnection of carbon nanostructures with a polymer matrix provides an effective load transfer from the polymer material and the carbon nanostructure, ultimately leads to an increase of the strength characteristics of the composite. It is shown that the addition of graphene and its derivative nanostructures - graphite and graphene oxide - as reinforcing material in a polymer matrix significantly increases the mechanical properties and reduces the electric resistance of the resulting composite.