Surperhydrophobic polyurethane foam modified by graphene oxide

Graphene with amine group was covalently grafted on the polyurethane foam with nitrile group to form superhydrophobic foam. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical contact angle measuring device, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the foam, showing the dodecane diamine was successfully grafted onto graphene oxide and the graphene oxide modified by dodecane diamine was successfully grafted onto polyurethane foam. Moreover, the modified foam exhibited a high contact angle (159.1 +/- 2.3 degrees) compared to unmodified foam (121.4 +/- 3.2 degrees). And that is due to the foam modified by amidation of graphene oxide can enhance the surface roughness and reduce the surface energy of the foam. Owing to modified foam was extremely hydrophobic and preferentially adsorbed oil other than water, the sorption capacity of the modified foam for toluene, gasoline, and diesel is 41, 27, and 26 g/g, respectively. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3530-3536, 2013