Physical Properties of Functionalized Graphene Sheet/Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) Composites

The physical properties of functionalized graphene sheet (FGS)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) was examined with various kinds of EVA, having vinyl acetate (VA) contents in the range of 0 to 40 wt%. The compatibility between FGS and EVA was enhanced as the polar VA content of EVA increased. Thus, the dispersion of FGS in EVA became finer, and the decrease of surface resistivity and the increase of tensile modulus by the added FGS became more effective when the VA content of EVA was high. When the VA content was low, the elongation at break was reduced drastically by added FGS due to the poor adhesion of FGS/EVA interface. The crystallization of EVA was generally retarded by the interaction with dispersed FGS. However, when both the VA content of EVA and the added amount of FGS were low, the crystallization of EVA was enhanced, probably due to the predominant nucleating effect by FGS.