Study of Viscoelastic Behavior and Mechanical Characteristics of Graphene-Filled ABS Composites

Abstract

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) thermoplastic composites were reinforced with graphene fillers for three different weight ratios of 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9%. The compounding was prepared using a twin-screw extruder, and the specimens were made using an injection molding machine. The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)study revealed that the thermal stability of ABS composites was improved (~7%) by adding graphene fillers in pure ABS.The tensile and flexural strength of the ABS/grapheme composites was maximumwith the addition of 0.6 wt% graphene fillers. But the impact strength was reduced (~42%) for the addition of graphene fillers of more than 0.6 wt%. The stiffness of pure ABS was enhanced by more than ~27% with the addition of graphene fillers. It was found from a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis(DMA) study that the storage modulus and Tan Delta values of the composites were improved compared to pure ABS. The storage modulus was increased by more than ~70% over a wide range of temperatures. The addition of graphene fillers in the ABS matrix improved the glass transition temperature (increased from 110 °C to 118 °C). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images confirmed the homogeneous mixing of the ABS matrix and the graphene fillers, and better dispersion was noticed with 0.6 wt% of graphene fillers.