A Novel Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) Dispersant: Polyaryletherketones with Pendent Pyrene Groups

Polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) with pendant pyrene groups are prepared and used to functionalize and disperse graphene nanoplates (GNPs). A variety of polymers with a range of pyrene contents are studied. A monomer with pyrene and two hydroxyl groups is designed and synthesized through the Suzuki reaction and used to prepare a series of pyrene-functioned PAEKs (Py-PAEKs) by copolymerization. Experiments demonstrate that Py-PAEKs have not only excellent solubility, but also excellent mechanical properties and outstanding heat resistance. In the same treatment condition, the concentration of GNPs that are modified by Py-PAEK with 40 molar percentage of pyrene (Py-40) increases 88 times of the concentration of pure GNPs in NMP. In addition, adding 0.5% GNPs, which is functionalized by Py-40 to PEEK resin, improves the flexural strength of polymer composite nearly 12% and while the tensile strength of these composites improves nearly 10% with a doubling of the strain at break.