Graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composites

US11225558B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey · US

Inventors

• Thomas Nosker · Stockton, US
• Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi · Montgomery, US
• Bernard H. Kear · Madison, US
• Justin Hendrix · Washington, US
• Gordon Chiu · Richmond, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 25, 2019
• Grant date: Jan 18, 2022
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08J2381/06
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite comprising an essentially uniform distribution in a thermoplastic polymer of about 10% to about 50% of total composite weight of particles selected from graphite microparticles, single-layer graphene nanoparticles, multi-layer graphene nanoparticles, and combinations thereof, where at least 50 wt % of the particles consist of single- and/or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along a c-axis direction. The graphene-reinforced polymer matrix is prepared by a method comprising (a) distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase comprising one or more matrix polymers; and (b) applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the matrix polymers exfoliate the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along a c-axis direction.