Graphene Composites
AssigneeThe University of Manchester
InventorsIan Kinloch, Robert Young, Lei Gong
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Abstract
The present invention relates to novel nanocomposite materials, methods of making nanocomposites and uses of nanocomposite materials. In particular, the invention relates to composite materials which contain two-dimensional materials (e.g. graphene) in multi-layer form i.e. in a form which has a number of atomic layers. The properties of a composite material containing two-dimensional material is in multi-layer from are shown to be superior to those which contain the two-dimensional material in monolayer form.
Claims13
A composite material comprising:
- a substrate or matrix;
- and
- a filler comprising of layered, inorganic 2 dimensional material with an in-plane modulus significantly higher than the shear modulus between the layers;
- wherein the filler material is dispersed within the matrix or provided on the substrate;
- and
- wherein the filler material comprises a plurality of individual fragments in which the thickness of the filler fragments is such that at least 50% of the filler has a thickness of between 2 layers and 7 layers, preferably wherein 50% by weight of the filler has the required number of layers.
A composite material comprising:
- a substrate or matrix;
- and
- a filler comprising of layered, inorganic 2 dimensional material with an in-plane modulus significantly higher than the shear modulus between the layers;
- wherein the filler material is dispersed within the matrix or provided on the substrate;
- and
- wherein the filler material comprises a plurality of individual fragments and wherein the volume loading of the filler in the matrix or on the substrate is at least 0.1 vol %.
A composite material comprising:
- a substrate or matrix;
- and
- a filler comprising of layered, inorganic 2 dimensional material with a in-plane modulus significantly higher than the shear modulus between the layers;
- wherein the filler material is dispersed within the matrix or provided on the substrate;
- and
- wherein the filler material comprises a plurality of individual fragments in which the average thickness of the filler taken as a whole is between 2 layers and 7 layers.
A method of preparing a composite, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of individual filler fragments;
- and either
- providing a substrate, and depositing the filler fragments onto the substrate, wherein the filler fragments are not chemically treated prior to deposition on the polymer substrate;
- or
- admixing the filler fragments with a matrix-forming material to produce a dispersion of filler in the matrix and optionally curing the matrix forming material.
Material comprising a plurality of individual graphene fragments as the filler wherein the graphene has an average thickness of between 2 graphene layers and 7 graphene layers, and/or wherein the thickness of the individual graphene fragments is such that at least 50% of the graphene has a thickness between 2 layers and 7 layers.
Use of a filler for improving one or more of the mechanical properties selected from the group comprising:
- the strength, modulus, wear resistance, and hardness, of a matrix or substrate by incorporating a filler into the martix and/or applying the filler onto the substrate to form a composite material, wherein at least one of the aforementioned mechanical properties is improved relative to that of the matrix or substrate, and wherein the filler comprises a plurality of individual fragments having an average thickness of between 2 layers and 7 layers, and/or wherein the thickness of the individual filler fragments is such that at least 50% of the filler has a thickness between 2 layers and 7 layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.