Advanced biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites by in situ compositing process

Abstract In this article, aliphatic diols (1,3‐propylene glycol and 1,4‐butanediol), aliphatic dibasic acids (succinic acid, sebacic acid, and fumaric acid), and graphene oxide (GO), were used as raw materials to prepare the advanced biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer (BTPE)/reduced GO (rGO) nanocomposites through reactions of in situ melting condensation, chemical reduction, and chain extension. The rGO is well dispersed in BTPE matrix by means of its predispersion in aliphatic diols before the polycondensation of the polyester prepolymers. Tensile strength of the BTPE/rGO nanocomposite with GO dosage of 0.6 wt% increase from 8.2 MPa of BTPE to 15.6 MPa, and its elongation at break also increases simultaneously. Meanwhile, biodegradability and electrical conductivity of the BTPE/rGO nanocomposites with GO dosage of 1.0 wt% increase greatly compared with those of BTPE. The advanced BTPE/rGO nanocomposites have great potential values in the fields of biodegradable medical materials, antistatic and conductive materials, among other applications.