<i>In situ</i> thermal reduction of graphene oxide in a styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene triblock copolymer via melt blending

Abstract

Abstract We report an in situ thermal reduction of graphene oxide ( GO ) in a styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene ( SEBS ) triblock copolymer matrix during a melt‐blending process. A relatively high degree of reduction was achieved by melt‐blending premixed GO / SEBS nanocomposites in a Haake mixer for 25 min at 225 °C. Infrared spectral results revealed the successful thermal reduction of, and the strong adsorption of SEBS on, the graphene sheets. The glass transition temperature of polystyrene ( PS ) segments in SEBS was enhanced by the incorporation of thermally reduced graphene oxide ( TRGO ). The resultant TRGO / SEBS nanocomposites were used as a masterbatch to improve the mechanical properties of PS . Both the elongation at break and the flexural strength of PS / SEBS blends were enhanced with the addition of the TRGO . Our demonstration of the in situ thermal reduction of GO via melt blending is a simple, efficient strategy for preparing nanocomposites with well‐dispersed TRGO in the polymer matrix, which could be an important route for large‐scale fabrication of high‐performance graphene/polymer nanocomposites. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry