Dynamic mechanical behavior of flexible graphite made from exfoliated graphite

The low-frequency dynamic mechanical properties of low density flexible graphite (0.027-0.089 g/cm(3), obtained by compressing exfoliated graphite at 0.3-1.7 MPa without a binder) are different in flexure and compression. The storage and loss moduli and the loss tangent are higher under flexure than compression. Under flexure, the storage modulus is essentially unaffected by increasing the static strain while the loss tangent and loss modulus decrease. Under compression, both storage and loss moduli increase with increasing static strain, while the loss tangent slightly decreases. The storage and loss moduli are higher and the loss tangent is lower for out-of-plane compression than for in-plane compression. The storage and loss moduli increase with increasing fabrication pressure, while the loss tangent decreases. Energy dissipation is much more effective under flexure than compression. Flexure appears to provide more sliding of the graphite layers than compression. For the highest energy dissipation under flexure, a low static strain is recommended; for high energy dissipation under compression, a high static strain is recommended. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.