Raman spectroscopic imaging of graphene dispersion in polymer composites

Polymer composites reinforced by graphene platelets (GPLs) have the advantage of enhanced mechanical properties at low loadings. However the planar geometry of GPLs and their entanglement complicate the dispersion of graphene in the polymer matrix and limit the improvement of the mechanical properties. In this study, confocal Raman spectroscopic imaging was used to map the dispersion of GPLs in an epoxy-based composite and was shown to be a suitable technique to study the dispersion of GPLs in the matrix. The Raman images were then used to explain the observed mechanical behavior of graphene-epoxy composites. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.