Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Graphene-Polyamide 6 Composite

Overview

Journal Materials (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2024 Jul 27

PMID 39063756

Authors

Pawel Gluchowski

Marta Macieja

Robert Tomala

Mariusz Stefanski

Wieslaw Strek

Maciej Ptak

Damian Szymanski

Konrad Szustakiewicz

Adam Junka

Bartlomiej Dudek

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of graphene-polymer composites, focusing on their mechanical and antibacterial properties. Graphene flakes were obtained via an electrochemical method and integrated into polyamide 6 (PA6) matrices using melt intercalation. Various characterization techniques confirmed the quality of the graphene flakes, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) imaging. Mechanical tests showed an increase in the elastic modulus with graphene incorporation, while the impact strength decreased. The SEM analysis highlighted the dispersion of the graphene flakes within the composites and their impact on fracture behavior. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated significant antibacterial properties of the composites, attributed to both oxidative stress and mechanical damage induced by the graphene flakes. The results suggest promising applications for graphene-polymer composites in advanced antimicrobial materials.

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