Effect of reduced graphene oxide functionalization by sulfanilic acid on the mechanical properties of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile)/reduced graphene oxide composites

The sulfonation of reduced graphene oxide (SRGO) by the aryl diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid was focused to examine the enhancement effect on the mechanical properties of poly styrene‐acrylonitrile (SAN). The SAN was prepared by surfactant‐free emulsion copolymerization using a cationic initiator. By mixing sulfonated RGO (SRGO) into the SAN polymer matrix, positively‐charged SAN particles were attracted to the negatively‐charged surfaces of SRGO sheets via electrostatic interactions. The storage modulus of SAN‐SRGO increased to 46% at 4 wt% SRGO loading. This improvement is attributed to strong interactions between sulfonated groups on the surface SRGO and the nitrile groups of SAN. POLYM. COMPOS., 44–50, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers