Dispersion Analysis of Graphene in Laminated Composites (DiAGra)

石墨烯是世界上第一种二维材料，自2004年分离以来，它引起了全世界科学家、研究人员和工业界的注意。它超轻，但非常坚韧。它的强度是钢的200倍，但它的柔韧性令人难以置信。它是最薄的材料，同时也是透明的。石墨烯和其他纳米填料可用于聚合物复合材料，以提高机械和物理性能，例如提高拉伸强度、拉伸模量、冲击强度、导电性和导热性，并减少放热。然而，石墨烯是一种惰性碳纳米材料，在聚合物基体中容易聚集且难以分散。HCS在南威尔士的姐妹公司Haydale Ltd获得了专利的功能化过程。功能化有助于石墨烯在聚合物基体中的分散。为了优化石墨烯作为复合材料增强材料的使用，需要了解石墨烯在层压材料结构中的位置以及它的分散程度。该项目将利用国家物理实验室的知识和分析能力，协助Haydale复合解决方案公司更好地分散层压复合材料中的石墨烯，并更好地了解如何在工业规模上影响其性能。

Graphene is the world's first 2D material and since its isolation in 2004 it has captured the attention of scientists, researchers and industry worldwide. It is ultra-light yet immensely tough. It is 200 times stronger than steel, but it is incredibly flexible. It is the thinnest material possible as well as being transparent. Graphene and other nanofillers can be used in polymer composites to enhance mechanical and physical properties for example increased tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact strength, electrical and thermal conductivity and to reduce exotherms. However graphene is an inert carbon nanomaterial which is prone to aggregation and difficult to disperse within a polymer matrix. HCS has access to a patented functionalisation process at its sister company Haydale Ltd in South Wales. Functionalisation helps with the dispersion of the graphene within the polymer matrix. To optimise the use of graphene as a reinforcement in composite materials requires a knowledge of where the graphene is within the structure of the laminated materials and how well dispersed it is. This project will use the knowledge and analytical capabitilies of NPL to assist Haydale Composite Solutions to better disperse the graphene within laminated composite materials and to better understand how to influence the properties on an industrial scale.