Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites
For the first time, the double electrical percolation threshold was obtained in polylactide (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) composite systems, prepared by compression moulding and fused filament fabrication (FFF). Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force mic...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/23/9231 |
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| author | Nour-Alhoda Masarra Jean-Christophe Quantin Marcos Batistella Roland El Hage Monica Francesca Pucci José-Marie Lopez-Cuesta |
| author_facet | Nour-Alhoda Masarra Jean-Christophe Quantin Marcos Batistella Roland El Hage Monica Francesca Pucci José-Marie Lopez-Cuesta |
| author_sort | Nour-Alhoda Masarra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For the first time, the double electrical percolation threshold was obtained in polylactide (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) composite systems, prepared by compression moulding and fused filament fabrication (FFF). Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the localisation of the GNP, as well as the morphology of PLA and PCL phases, were evaluated and correlated with the electrical conductivity results estimated by the four-point probe method electrical measurements. The solvent extraction method was used to confirm and quantify the co-continuity in these samples. At 10 wt.% of the GNP, compression-moulded samples possessed a wide co-continuity range, varying from PLA55/PCL45 to PLA70/PCL30. The best electrical conductivity results were found for compression-moulded and 3D-printed PLA65/PCL35/GNP that have the fully co-continuous structure, based on the experimental and theoretical findings. This composite owns the highest storage modulus and complex viscosity at low angular frequency range, according to the melt shear rheology. Moreover, it exhibited the highest char formation and polymers degrees of crystallinity after the thermal investigation by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The effect of the GNP content, compression moulding time, and multiple twin-screw extrusion blending steps on the co-continuity were also evaluated. The results showed that increasing the GNP content decreased the continuity of the polymer phases. Therefore, this work concluded that polymer processing methods impact the electrical percolation threshold and that the 3D printing of polymer composites entails higher electrical resistance as compared to compression moulding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:33:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d3c9eb9537e4a26af4b1e89f6e461da |
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| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:33:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d3c9eb9537e4a26af4b1e89f6e461da2023-11-24T12:10:45ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-11-012223923110.3390/s22239231Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP NanocompositesNour-Alhoda Masarra0Jean-Christophe Quantin1Marcos Batistella2Roland El Hage3Monica Francesca Pucci4José-Marie Lopez-Cuesta5Polymers Composites and Hybrids (PCH), IMT Mines Ales, 30100 Ales, FranceLMGC, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier University, CNRS, 30319 Ales, FrancePolymers Composites and Hybrids (PCH), IMT Mines Ales, 30100 Ales, FrancePolymers Composites and Hybrids (PCH), IMT Mines Ales, 30100 Ales, FranceLMGC, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier University, CNRS, 30319 Ales, FrancePolymers Composites and Hybrids (PCH), IMT Mines Ales, 30100 Ales, FranceFor the first time, the double electrical percolation threshold was obtained in polylactide (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) composite systems, prepared by compression moulding and fused filament fabrication (FFF). Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the localisation of the GNP, as well as the morphology of PLA and PCL phases, were evaluated and correlated with the electrical conductivity results estimated by the four-point probe method electrical measurements. The solvent extraction method was used to confirm and quantify the co-continuity in these samples. At 10 wt.% of the GNP, compression-moulded samples possessed a wide co-continuity range, varying from PLA55/PCL45 to PLA70/PCL30. The best electrical conductivity results were found for compression-moulded and 3D-printed PLA65/PCL35/GNP that have the fully co-continuous structure, based on the experimental and theoretical findings. This composite owns the highest storage modulus and complex viscosity at low angular frequency range, according to the melt shear rheology. Moreover, it exhibited the highest char formation and polymers degrees of crystallinity after the thermal investigation by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The effect of the GNP content, compression moulding time, and multiple twin-screw extrusion blending steps on the co-continuity were also evaluated. The results showed that increasing the GNP content decreased the continuity of the polymer phases. Therefore, this work concluded that polymer processing methods impact the electrical percolation threshold and that the 3D printing of polymer composites entails higher electrical resistance as compared to compression moulding.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/23/9231double electrical percolationelectrical conductivityco-continuous structure3D printingbio nanocomposite blendsPLA |
| spellingShingle | Nour-Alhoda Masarra Jean-Christophe Quantin Marcos Batistella Roland El Hage Monica Francesca Pucci José-Marie Lopez-Cuesta Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites Sensors double electrical percolation electrical conductivity co-continuous structure 3D printing bio nanocomposite blends PLA |
| title | Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites |
| title_full | Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites |
| title_short | Influence of Polymer Processing on the Double Electrical Percolation Threshold in PLA/PCL/GNP Nanocomposites |
| title_sort | influence of polymer processing on the double electrical percolation threshold in pla pcl gnp nanocomposites |
| topic | double electrical percolation electrical conductivity co-continuous structure 3D printing bio nanocomposite blends PLA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/23/9231 |
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