Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelets on Properties of Recycled Poly (ethylene terephthalate)

This work has concerned the upcycling of PET bottles by mixing with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and fabrication via melt processes. A feasibility of applying the recycled PET/GNP composites as a cover lid for encapsulation of flexible organic solar cells was also of our interest. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of concentration of GNP on optical, thermo-mechanical, and barrier properties of the recycled PET (r-PET). The result demonstrated that degree of crystallinity and mechanical properties of r-PET nanocomposites increased after mixing with GNP. The water vapor transmittance rate of r-PET films loaded with 0.2 pph of GNP is also lower than that of the neat PET film, The above improvements were obtained at the expense of percentage of light transmittance through the nanocomposite films. In this study, the optimum content of GNP for mixing with r-PET to prepare the composite films with compromised optical and thermo-mechanical properties is 0.025 pph.