US 12,460,064 B2
In situ exfoliation method to fabricate a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite
Thomas J. Nosker, Stockton, NJ (US); Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Belle Mead, NJ (US); Justin W. Hendrix, Washington, DC (US); Bernard H. Kear, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US); Gordon Chiu, Summit, NJ (US); and Stephen Tse, Warren, NJ (US)
Assigned to RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, New Brunswick, NJ (US)
Filed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/374,522.
Application 17/374,522 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/900,137, filed on Feb. 20, 2018, granted, now 11,098,175.
Application 15/900,137 is a continuation of application No. 14/437,040, granted, now 9,896,565, issued on Feb. 20, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2013/031495, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/716,461, filed on Oct. 19, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0363321 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. C08K 3/04 (2006.01); B29C 48/56 (2019.01); B29C 48/67 (2019.01); B29K 105/16 (2006.01); C08J 3/20 (2006.01); C08J 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC C08K 3/04 (2013.01) [B29C 48/56 (2019.02); B29C 48/67 (2019.02); C08J 3/201 (2013.01); C08J 5/005 (2013.01); B29K 2105/162 (2013.01); C08J 2300/22 (2013.01); C08J 2381/06 (2013.01); C08K 2201/011 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
 
1. A graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite, comprising a distribution of graphite microparticles and mechanically exfoliated single-or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles in a thermoplastic polymer matrix, wherein the composite comprises contamination-free graphene-polymer interfaces, wherein the polymer adheres to or is covalently bonded to the graphene-polymer interfaces,
wherein the single-or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles are directionally aligned, thereby providing one-, two- or three-dimensional reinforcement of the polymer matrix phase, and
wherein between about 50% to about 90% by weight of the graphite microparticles and the single-or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles are the single-or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles.