Graphene Polyimide Nanocomposites; Thermal, Mechanical, and High-Temperature Shape Memory Effects

Flexible graphene polyimide nanocomposites (0.1-4 wt %) with superior mechanical properties over those of neat polyimide resin have been prepared by solution blending. Imide moieties were grafted to amine-functionalized graphene using a step-by-step condensation and thermal imidization method. The imide-functionalized graphene exhibited excellent compatibility with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The dynamic storage moduli of the graphene polyimide nanocomposites increased linearly with increasing graphene content for both unmodified graphene and imidized graphene. Moduli of the imidized graphene nanocomposites were 25-30% higher than those of unmodified graphene nanocomposites. Both neat polyimide and polyimide nanocomposites exhibited shape memory effects with a triggering temperature of 230 degrees C. where addition of graphene improved the recovery rate. Addition of graphene improved thermal stability of the polyimide nanocomposites for both graphene and modified graphene.