Date Thesis Awarded

5-2011

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Chemistry

Advisor

David E. Kranbuehl

Committee Members

Hannes Schniepp

Robert A. Orwoll

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites were prepared using a solvent cast technique with various polymers were dissolved in solvents and dried into a flat film adding graphene as the nanocomposites. Graphene, a material that is ten times stronger than steel, was used in an attempt to create light yet strong materials for application in airplane and car bodies. Polyethylenimine (PEI) was dissolved using dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and polystyrene (PS) was dissolved using dimethylformamide (DMF). Graphene was exfoliated in DMF and added to each polymer/solvent mix in varying concentrations. The solvent mix was then spread out onto glass to create nanocomposite films. The films were then dried so each had the same solvent content. It was noticed that there was a positive relationship between the graphene concentration and the maximum stress, elongation at break, and the modulus of each material creating a material that is stronger, more flexible, and lighter.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Comments

Thesis is part of Honors ETD pilot project, 2008-2013. Migrated from Dspace in 2016.

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