AVS 63rd International Symposium & Exhibition
    Manufacturing Science and Technology Monday Sessions
       Session MS-MoA

Paper MS-MoA4
Two-Dimensional Layered Materials For Composites Applications

Monday, November 7, 2016, 2:40 pm, Room 103A

Session: pb
Presenter: Jorge Catalan, University of Texas at El Paso
Authors: J. Catalan, University of Texas at El Paso
A. Delgado, University of Texas at El Paso
A.B. Kaul, University of Texas at El Paso
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Composite materials provide us with an alternative route to combine the characteristic properties from two different materials into one. At the same time, this characteristic of composite materials opens up a new window for different applications such as optoelectronic sensors, strain sensors, capacitive sensor and opto-electro-mechanical sensors. Initially, the isolation of single layered graphene by mechanical exfoliation and nowadays with different methods such ion intercalation, solvent based exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have allowed the utilization of two-dimensional (2D) materials as reinforcement particles into different polymer matrixes for composite materials. This is because 2D materials offer interesting semiconducting properties that might be able to be captured in a polymer-based matrix that provides a ductile medium make them suitable for printable flexible electronic devices and sensors. In this work we have explored graphene, MoS2, and WS2 as possible reinforcement material in different polymers matrixes. The first type of composite consisted of a poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrix with different type of fillers (graphene, MoS2 and WS2). The second type of composite materials that we studied consists of a poly-isoprene matrix (natural rubber band) and graphene, MoS2, and WS2 as reinforcement material. We have conducted strain testing on the structures we have fabricated to make strain-dependent electrical and optical properties. The PMMA/filler material composite was optically and electrically characterized under different strains with the help of different fixtures with different radius of curvature. On the other hand, the poly-isoprene composites were characterized with the help of a self-made type of clamp that allows us to strain the rubber band like composite to different degrees and measure the electrical characteristics of the compound. The opto-electro-mechanical characterization was developed with the scope of utilizing these composite materials as strain or flexible sensors for health monitoring or non-destructive evaluation.