Composite of cyclic olefin copolymer with low graphene content for transparent water-vapor-barrier films. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lai, Cheng-Lee; Fu, Ywu-Jang; Chen, Jung-Tsai; Wang, Da-Ming; Sun, Yi-Ming; Huang, Shu-Hsien; Hung, Wei-Song; Hu, Chien-Chieh; Lee, Kueir-Rarn
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 90(2015)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.04.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: This study fabricates a transparent cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)/thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) composite film with low content of TRGO, which exhibits high water vapor barrier properties. With only 0.06 wt% (0.028 vol%) TRGO, the COC/TRGO composite film reduces the water vapor permeability by ∼21%. The amount of TRGO in this work is 10–100 times lower than that in other polymer/clay or polymer/graphene composites that reduce the water vapor permeability at the same percentage. Low TRGO content has benefits of fabricating a film with low cost, high transparency, and truly excellent flexibility. The water vapor permeabilities of COC/TRGO composites are much lower than those predicted by Cussler or Nielsen model because of the significant rigidification of COC chains near TRGOs. The COC/TRGO composite film was annealed at different temperatures and then surface modified with amphiphilic polymer to further improve its barrier performance. By treating the film with 0.06 wt% TRGO, the water vapor permeability is greatly reduced by ∼65%.