Nanocomposites of polyethylene/polyaniline/graphite with special morphology

Abstract

Nanofillers of polyaniline nanofibers (PANI) with graphite oxide (GO) or reduced graphite oxide (rGO) were synthesized and characterized. Four samples of PANI/graphite with 10% and 30% of GO or rGO were obtained. The addition of GO or rGO in PANI nanofibers increased the conductivity and improved the thermal stability of the nanofillers. These nanofillers were used in the in situ ethylene polymerization producing PE/PANI/graphite nanocomposites characterized by SEM and TEM, revealing very particular morphologies. PANI/GO or PANI/rGO nanoparticles showed a good dispersion in polyethylene, and an increase in the thermal stability of the final material was observed.