Polyester/Organo-Graphite Oxide Composite: Effect of Organically Surface Modified Layered Graphite on Structure and Physical Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone)

Silylated graphite oxide (sGO) was selected as suitable filler to improve the mechanical and electrical conductive properties of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). The composites of PCL and sGO were prepared by solution blending method. By modifying the surface of GO with silylation reagent (octyltrichlorosilane), the interlayer space of graphite oxide (GO) was increased and an excellent dispersion of the modified GO in the organic solvent and into the PCL matrix was achieved. The structures and physical properties of the sGO/PCL composites were characterized by the fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and volume resistivity measurements. It indicated that the PCL/sGO composites formed an exfoliated structure from the WAXD study. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of PCL increased with the addition of sGO. It was also found that a small amount of the sGO platelets in the composite could act as a nucleating agent and accelerated the crystallization of PCL. Further, the addition of the sGO platelets into the PCL matrix increased the volume electrical conductivity of PCL. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48:294-301, 2010