Development and Characterization of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate-Graphene Nanocomposites

The prospective applications of carbon graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) nanocomposites in flexible electronics, energy storage devices, and thermal management systems have attracted a lot of attention. These nanocomposites offer an effective solution for enhancing the electrical conductivity of interfacing materials in electronic systems and addressing issues related to thermal management. GNPs that possess excellent thermal conductivity of 2000–4000 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and an electrical conductivity of 10⁷ S m⁻¹ are utilized in this investigation. The homogeneous dispersion of nanofiller and the effective load transfer between components through strong filler/polymer interfacial interactions are essential for the creation of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites. Particularly, their electrical conductivity and dielectric properties are highlighted in this study, with an emphasis on the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite materials. This work investigates the utilization of graphene nanocomposites in EVA using a melt-mixing technique assisted by sonication to fabricate multifunctional composites. Incorporating different weight percentages of GNPs (ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 wt.%) within the polymer matrix is carried out. In the present study, the nanocomposites are characterized by scanning electron microscopy investigation and impedance spectrum analysis. The distinctive characteristics of the AC electrical transport in nanocomposites are investigated between 10 Hz and 1 MHz. Excellent interfacial compatibility has been demonstrated by the homogenous distribution of GNPs within the matrix, confirmed by SEM examination. These EVA nanocomposites demonstrate improved electrical conductivity, thereby rendering them very useful for energy storage applications, such as electronic capacitors, wherein supports with a significant dielectric constant and minimal dielectric loss are required.