Fabrication and characterization of as-produced and surface-treated graphene oxide-PMMA composite fibers

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study on graphene oxide (GO)-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composite fibers. GO was synthesized using the modified Hummers method, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized using AFM, SEM, Raman, and XPS, which showed successful production of atomically thin oxidized graphene structure. As-produced GO was dispersed in PMMA solution, which was subsequently used to melt-spin GOPMMA composite fibers at various GO loadings. In parallel, the surface of GO was noncovalently functionalized with a naturally available binding polymer (adhesive), which was subsequently dispersed in PMMA solution and solution-spun into fibers. The mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the fibers produced were characterized using a micro-tensile tester and a dynamic mechanical analyzer, and the effects of GO and its functionalization was investigated.