Synthesis and investigation of thermal properties of PMMA-maleimide-functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites

Reduced graphene oxide (RGEO) and N-[4-(chlorocarbonyl)phenyl]maleimide-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (MFRGEO) were used as nanofillers for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix nanocomposites to enhance thermal stability. Methyl methacrylate containing nanofiller of four different weight percent (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) was polymerized using ultrasonic radiation-assisted bulk polymerization. The Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed the absence of chemical interaction between the filler and the matrix phase. Morphology of nanocomposites studied using scanning electron microscope confirmed the assistance aided by ultrasonication in the uniform dispersion of nanofiller in the PMMA matrix. Thermogravimetric (TG) study revealed the presence of MFRGEO enhanced the thermal stability of PMMA by shifting the entire degradation to higher temperature. The thermal stability of PMMA nanocomposite was improved by as much as 40 degrees C at just 0.8 wt% loading of MFRGEO. Differential TG study also supported the role of maleimide functionalization on RGEO in the enhancement of thermal stability of PMMA by means of retarding the degradation rate of unsaturated chain ends in the PMMA matrix. Unlike MFRGEO, RGEO failed to enhance the thermal stability of PMMA.