Microstructure and elastic tensile behavior of polyethylene terephthalate-exfoliated graphene nanocomposites

Polyethylene terephthalate-exfoliated graphene nanocomposites were prepared by injection molding. Nanocomposites with graphene platelets of 2, 5, 10, and 15% weight fractions were molded and tested for mechanical characterization. Transmission electron microscopy imaging along with X-ray diffraction show that the graphene platelets remained intact and were dispersed into the matrix. An exponential increase in the Young’s modulus of the nanocomposites was observed, but with current limits on exfoliation they do not yet reach the potential suggested by idealized predictions.