Obtaining graphene structures and nanopolymers using ultrasonic vibrations

Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites are considered a promising class of future materials. The degree of filling, the filler and binder nature, and the shape, size, and mutual arrangement of filler particles determine the properties of a polymer composite material. The destruction of nanoparticles aggregates occurs most effectively in liquid media under the action of ultrasonic vibrations. The authors proposed the technique and designed laboratory equipment for ultrasonic treatment of the finely-dispersed graphite suspension, carried out the ultrasonic treatment (UST) of finely-dispersed graphite powder. The suspensions based on graphite with a solvent were obtained. The authors carried out the experiments on producing graphene using the graphite liquid-phase exfoliation method at the ultrasonic treatment with different ultrasonic treatment times, analyzed experimental data, and selected the UST optimal time. The paper contains the results of the study of the effect of the graphite suspension base on the degree of ultrasonic liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite. The most effective synthesis of graphene structures using UST is synthesis from graphite suspensions based on dichloroethane, benzol, and dichlorobenzene. Graphene structures’ output ratio amounts to up to 66 %. The authors developed the technology for producing polymers modified with graphene structures using ultrasonic dispersion. Based on graphene synthesized by the graphite liquid-phase exfoliation, the authors obtained nanopolymers using ultrasonic vibrations, carried out DSC measurements, and studied their strength properties. The limit strength of elastic polymers is from 1.9 to 3.6 MPa at different concentrations of graphene inclusions. The residual elongation of samples within the deviation did not change and amounted to 200 %.