Exfoliated Graphite Nano-Reinforcements With Surface Modifications to Improve Dispersability

Exfoliated graphite nanoflakes are a potential low-cost source of nano-reinforcement for making polymer composites with unique properties. The chemical nature of the graphitic surface leads to a low-surface energy as produced. This makes the nanoflakes difficult to disperse in polymer resins and makes it difficult to make high-quality composites. To improve nanoflake dispersability in various polymers, two surface treatments were selected to modify the chemical structure of the graphite nanoflakes.