Enhanced thermal properties of graphene oxide-incorporated polymeric microspheres

Polystyrene (PS) microspheres coated with graphene oxide (GO) were prepared and the variation of their thermal properties according to the GO loading was examined. The GO content in the PS-GO nanocomposites was controlled by the GO dispersions at various concentrations. The GO was coated onto the surface of the PS microspheres through the strong ionic interaction between polyvinylpyrrolidone and the GO sheet. The thermal properties of the GO incorporated PS microspheres were affected by the GO, which disturbed the chain activity and exhibited effective heat shielding. It also delayed the permeation of oxygen and hindered the escape of volatile degradation products from the PS-GO nanocomposites. In addition, the thermal degradation temperature of the nanocomposites was increased above 15 °C and their T _g was also increased above 4.0 °C. PS-GO exhibited higher thermal conductivity (0.173 W/mK) than that of pure PS (0.117 W/mK).