Improving Mechanical Strength of Polystyrene Membranes by Using Graphite Flakes as Nanofiller

ABSTRACT Polymeric membranes are widely used for various engineering applications. But in pristine form, the polymeric membranes show poor mechanical properties so their applications are limited in pristine form. The mechanical properties can be improved by using nanofillers. In this research, the mechanical properties of polystyrene (PS) membranes are tried to improve by incorporating flakes of graphite. Graphite powder was first used to make graphite flakes, which were subsequently added to the membranes. The preparation of membranes is accomplished by solution casting technique. Five distinct membranes have been created by changing the amount of graphite flakes. The concentration of graphite flakes has been increased from 0 to 1 wt.% of the PS. The prepared membranes are characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical testing. Out of all the prepared membranes, the membrane with 0.7 wt.% of graphite-filled PS has shown an increment of around 64 % in tensile strength, whereas the modulus of elasticity is increased to 674 MPa, which was 235 MPa for the pristine one.