Mechanical and thermal properties of electrospun polyimide/rGO composite nanofibers via in-situ polymerization and in-situ thermal conversion. (5th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Xiaoping; Ding, Chenhui; Cheng, Chuyun; Liu, Shuwu; Duan, Gaigai; Xu, Wenhui; Liu, Kunming; Hou, Haoqing
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 141(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-05
• Subjects: Single nanofiber -- Electrospinning -- Polyimide -- Mechanical property -- Thermal property; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.110083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Single PI/rGO composite nanofiber by in-situ polymerization and in-situ thermal conversion. Tensile strength of single nanofiber up to 4.2 GPa (PI/rGO-1.0% single nanofiber). Modulus of single nanofiber up to 121 GPa (PI/rGO-1.2% single nanofiber). Homogeneous dispersion of rGO by in-situ strategies. In-situ strategies enhance the interfacial interaction between rGO and PI fibrous matrix. Abstract: High mechanical performance electrospun polymeric nanofibers are highly desired for practical applications, especially as reinforcements for composites. However, most of the electrospun polymeric nanofibers present tensile strength < 3 GPa. To overcome such limitation, this work successfully prepared single rGO reinforced polyimide composite nanofiber with tensile strength up to 4.2 GPa (PI/rGO-1.0%) and modulus up to 121 GPa (PI/rGO-1.2%) by applying in-situ polymerization, electrospinning, and in-situ thermal conversion. These mechanical properties are higher than other polymer-based electrospun nanofibers, and 45% and 236% higher than those of neat PI single nanofiber, respectively. The in-situ strategies provide the homogeneous dispersion of rGO in single electrospun nanofibers and enhance the interfacial interaction between rGO and PI. In addition, the PI/rGO composite nanofibers also present excellent thermal stability with glass transition temperature (Tg ) > 295 °C, and the 5% thermal decomposition temperature (T5% ) > 539 °C. This work would open a new route for the preparation of high performance electrospun nanofibers for composites.