Preparation and Physical Properties of Waterborne Polyurethane/Functionalized Graphene Sheet Nanocomposites

A nanocomposite of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was prepared with functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) which are a new type of nano-sized conductive filler. The FIGS were finely dispersed in a polymer matrix to improve the conductivity of the WPU. Conductivity of about 105 times that of pristine WPU was attained using two parts FIGS per. 100 parts of the matrix polymer. The FGS reduced the hard segment crystallinity of the WPU, which lowered the modulus of the WPU at room temperature. This modulus reduction became more evident in the temperature region above the glass transition temperature of the hard segment.