Graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate

Abstract

A composition and a method are provided for graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Graphene nanoplatelets comprising a suitable initial surface area are added to a solvent for producing PET. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises ethylene glycol. The solvent and graphene nanoplatelets are sonicated to disperse the nanoplatelets within the solvent. The solvent and graphene nanoplatelets are centrifuged to remove nanoplatelet agglomerates within the solvent. A supernatant solution of dispersed graphene nanoplatelets and solvent is decanted and then used for in-situ polymerization of the graphene reinforced PET comprising a continuous matrix of PET with a dispersed graphene reinforcement phase. The graphene reinforcements comprise a minimal number of layers of two-dimensional mono-atomic carbon sheets. In some embodiments, the number of layers ranges between 1 layer and 7 layers. The graphene reinforced PET preferably comprises a concentration of graphene nanoplatelets being less than substantially 2% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced PET.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition, comprising:
 a polyethylene terephthalate monomer; and   graphene nanoplatelets in the form of one or more layers of two-dimensional mono-atomic carbon sheets, wherein the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition comprises a concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranging between 0.005% and 0.3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition.   
     
     
         21 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranges between 0.005% and 0.01% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition. 
     
     
         22 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranges between 0.005% and 0.1% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition. 
     
     
         23 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranges between 0.01% and 0.1% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition. 
     
     
         24 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranges between 0.01% and 0.3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition. 
     
     
         25 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets ranges between 0.1% and 0.3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition. 
     
     
         26 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the graphene nanoplatelets comprise an average surface area ranging between 15 m 2 /g and 750 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         27 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 26 , wherein the graphene nanoplatelets comprise an average surface area ranging between 120 m 2 /g and 750 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         28 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the number of layers ranges between 1 and 7. 
     
     
         29 . The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition of  claim 28 , wherein the number of layers ranges between 1 and 4. 
     
     
         30 . A method for preparing graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the method comprising:
 adding graphene nanoplatelets to a solvent suitable for producing PET;   sonicating the solvent and graphene nanoplatelets so as to cause a homogeneous dispersion of the graphene nanoplatelets within the solvent;   centrifuging the solvent and graphene nanoplatelets to remove larger graphene nanoplatelets that are not suitably dispersed within the solvent;   decanting a supernatant solution of graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in the solvent; and   performing a reaction to produce a PET monomer.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein sonicating is performed for a period of time ranging between 24 hours and 106 hours. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein centrifuging is performed at a centrifugal speed ranging between 1500 rpm and 4500 rpm. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the solvent suitable for producing PET comprises ethylene glycol.