High-performance polyketone nanocomposites achieved via plasma-assisted mechanochemistry

J. You, Han Hyeong Choi, Tae Ann Kim, Min Park, Jeong Sook Ha, Sang Soo Lee, Jong Hyuk Park

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Polyketone (PK) is an engineering plastic with excellent impact strength, chemical resistance, barrier properties, and flame retardancy. However, the development of PK nanocomposites with further improved properties obtained via compounding is challenging due to the poor compatibility between PK and nanofillers. Also, since PK is not soluble in common organic solvents, it is difficult to enhance the affinity between components by applying wet chemistry processes widely used to make other composites. Herein, we report an effective solution to improve the compatibility of PK and nanofillers via a completely dry process. The plasma-assisted mechanochemistry (PMC) process can form chemical bonds between polymers and nanofillers, thereby promoting the dispersion of the nanofillers in polymer composites. PK was compounded with graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) using the PMC process, and the structure and properties of the composites were investigated. The composites displayed greatly improved mechanical and gas barrier properties, and thermal conductivity; compared with conventionally prepared composites having the same GNP content (10 wt%), the composites prepared via the PMC process had 9.7 times higher elongation at break (112.1%), 2.2 times higher impact strength (89.2 J/m), 2.2 times better barrier performance (0.9 g/m2·day), and 2.5 times higher thermal conductivity (1.6 and 13.9 W/mK in the through-plane and in-plane directions). This approach is an innovative route to high-performance polymer nanocomposites, even those constructed from insoluble and incompatible polymers such as PK.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number107800
    JournalComposites Science and Technology
    Volume183
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019 Oct 20

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

    Keywords

    • Functionalities
    • Interfacial affinity
    • Nanocomposites
    • Plasma-assisted mechanochemistry
    • Polyketone

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Ceramics and Composites
    • General Engineering

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