Phenyl glycidyl ether-based non-covalent functionalization of nano-carbon fillers for improving conductive properties of polymer composites

The excellent conductive properties of nano-carbon fillers are difficult to realize in composites due to the aggregation of nano-carbon fillers by van der Waals forces inside the polymer matrix. To overcome this problem, a process capable of inducing uniform dispersion of the nano-carbon filler is required. In this study, a dispersion strategy was proposed to induce non-covalent functionalization of nano-carbon fillers based on phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) including a single benzene structure as an inexpensive and effective non-covalent functionalization agent. The electrical and thermal conductivities of the composites filled with PGE-treated graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) were improved up to 296.3 and 4.4%, respectively, compared to those of the composites containing raw GNPs due to uniform dispersion of the nano-carbon fillers. In addition, the enhancements of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-filled composites using the PGE treatment were 125.8 and 11.3%, respectively. From these results, PGE was an effective non-covalent functionalization agent that can induce uniform dispersion of nano-carbon fillers and improve the conductive properties of composites.