The impact of graphene oxide on the mechanical and thermal strength properties of polycarbonate

Abstract

The mechanical and thermal properties of polycarbonate (PC) mixed with graphene oxide (GO) were investigated on an experimental basis in this study. PC composites with GO concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.75 wt% were produced using a compression molding technique. The results showed that 10%, 26%, 55%, and 98% increased tensile strength, respectively, in comparison to PC. The thermo-mechanical test showed the tan δ value of the sample with 0.2 wt% GO reached 149.9°C, indicating a shift of 4.8° in the high-temperature region when compared to pure PC. Other mechanical tests, such as impact strength, elongation at break, and young modulus displayed the ultimate improvement for PC composites with 0.2 wt% GO content, showing that interactions with the PC and enhancements in mechanical and thermal characteristics are owing to oxygen functional groups in pure GO, mainly carboxyl portions. Therefore, the current study offers an exceptional structural characteristic, which makes the PC composite polymer qualified for high-performance composite.