High-Strength Composites Fabricated Using Graphene Synthesized in Atmospheric Plasmas

Graphene created using atmospheric-pressure microwave-generated plasmas can enhance the strength of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is a thermoplastic polymer that is widely used in automotive components, electronic devices, and 3D printing. Here we present new knowledge on the relationships between the processing, structure, and properties of ABS reinforced with gas-phase-synthesized graphene (GSG). The process of dispersing GSG into ABS and the injection molding of ABS-GSG composites will be discussed. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy images of the filler-matrix interfaces in ABS-GSG specimens will be shown. We reveal that loading ABS with a relatively small amount of GSG (0.1 wt%) results in a remarkable 19.4% increase in tensile strength. The results suggest that unique strengthening mechanisms exist in ABS reinforced with graphene obtained using microwave plasma technology. This presentation highlights how substrate-free plasma-based techniques produce graphene that can greatly contribute to the development of high-strength composites.