Effect of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) graphene content on the properties of EPDM/graphene composites

For dielectric elastomers, the high loading of high k ceramic fillers can increase the dielectric constant of elastomers, but their Young's modulus can also be greatly increased and the high loading of filler increases the complex viscosity of composites during manufacturing process. In this study, graphene platelets (GE) fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is used to improve the dielectric constant of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)-based elastomer. The dependence of the cure, electrical, rheological, dielectric and mechanical properties of EPDM-based elastomers on amount of GE is analyzed. It is found that the addition of 0.5% graphene platelets can increase the dielectric constant of EPDM control from 2.0 to 6.6 (230% increase) at 10(3) Hz, with little change of electric resistivity. Moreover, the addition of 0.5% graphene platelets decreases the complex viscosity of EPDM control from 48,000 to 16,500 Pa S (1.9 times decrease) at 1.7 Hz. Compared to EPDM control, the 0.5% graphene increase the relative ratio of dielectric constant to Young's modulus by 180%.

Automated summary

The study shows that adding graphene platelets can significantly increase the dielectric constant and decrease the complex viscosity of EPDM-based elastomers, with 0.5% graphene increasing the relative ratio of dielectric constant to Young's modulus by 180%.