(251p) Self-Assembly and Mechanical Properties of Graphene Containing Acrylic Triblock Copolymer Gels

 Self-assembly and Mechanical Properties of Graphene Containing Acrylic Triblock Copolymer Gels

     Mahla Zabet,Satish Mishraand Santanu Kundu

Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, Mississippi State University, MS State, MS, 39762

The mechanical properties of polymeric gels depend on their structure significantly. In this study we present the effect of graphene on the self-assembly and mechanical behavior of a thermoreversible gel consists of poly (methyl methacrylate) - poly (n-butyl acrylate) - poly (methyl methacrylate) [PMMA-PnBA-PMMA] in 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, a midblock selective solvent. Graphene nanoplatelets with 5-10 layers were obtained by sonication of graphite. The graphene was then incorporated in the polymeric gels at various concentrations. The mechanical properties of the gels without and with few layers of graphene were studied in their self-assembled state over a range of temperatures. In addition, the creep compliance of the gels was measured as a function of time. Maxwell-Jefferys model was used to analyze the viscoelastic behavior of the gels.