Oxygen-plasma Treated Graphene Nanoplatelet/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Polycarbonate Hybrid Nanocomposites for Anti-electrostatic Discharge Applications: Preparation and Properties

Oxygen-plasma treated graphene nanoplatelet (OGNP)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polycarbonate (PC) hybrid nanocomposites were prepared via melting process using a twin screw extruder. The content of OGNPs was in the range of 0-5.0 part per hundred of resin (phr) whereas the dosage of MWCNTs was kept constant at 2.0 wt%. Nanocomposites containing 2.0 wt% of MWCNTs and 2.0 wt% of MWCNT/1.5-5.0 phr of OGNP had tribo-charge voltages, surface resistivities, and decay times in the electrostatic discharge (ESD) specification. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that OGNPs slightly intercalated and distributed in the PC matrix. The glass transition temperature (T-g) and decomposition temperature (T-d) of nanocomposites slightly changed as the content of OGNPs increased. The melt flow index (MFI) of nanocomposites significantly decreased when MWCNTs were added into the PC resin and slightly changed as the dosage of OGNPs was increased.