Abstract:
Graphene based thermoplastic polyurethane composites filaments was prepared by melt blending process prior to fabricate with 3D printing technique. The effects of different graphene loading (0.05 wt% - 0.20 wt%) in TPU matrix on the properties of composites were studied. Initially, graphite was successfully oxidized to graphite oxide following Hummer’s method and the reduction of graphene oxide to graphene by L-ascorbic acid was also achieved as being confirmed by the FTIR and XRD results. TPU and TPU/graphene nanocomposites were investigated for their thermal, mechanical, physical and electrical properties. Thermal stability of TPU/graphene composites was improved against neat TPU. The first and second degradations of 0.15 wt% filled nanocomposites increased about 3 °C and 4 °C. The thermal properties of nanocomposites were studied by DSC and the result show the higher melting temperature when compared with neat TPU. The hydrophobicity of nanocomposites increased with the higher loading of graphene in TPU as observed by the contact angle measurement. The nanocomposites with 0.05wt% of graphene addition showed the highest tensile strength and dimensional stability.
