SYNERGISTIC INFLUENCE OF GRAPHITE ON BIOPOLYMER COMPOSITES PROPERTIES
Biopolymer and its cross-linker (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate, MDI) were blended by weight 2:1. This is mixed with different percentages of pretreated graphite. The mixture was prepared by slip casting as thin films, at thickness of ~0.1 mm. The interface-morphology-structure relations of graphite/ biopolymer composites was diagnosed by X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer. The homogeneously dispersed and strong interface between the graphite with/ within the biopolymer matric influenced the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the thin films where the percolation threshold occurs at higher graphite loading (20 wt.%, 25 wt.% and 30 wt.%) gives conductivity of 103 - 104 S/m. Remarkably, graphite/ biopolymer composites makes it possible to prepare better mechanical behavior with stiff, strong yet tough properties compared with those of its neat counterpart.