Mechanical properties of polymer/graphene composites

Abstract Mechanical properties of polymer and polymer-based composite materials are of great interest because of their application point of view, especially in structural and load-bearing fields. In this chapter, we focus on the mechanical properties of polymer-based graphene nanocomposites. Herein, important mechanical properties like tensile, compression, dynamic mechanical, and flexural properties of polymer/graphene nanocomposites are discussed. The reported tensile properties are tensile strength, tensile stiffness, tensile toughness, and tensile fatigue. Graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, and other functionalized graphene are mostly used as reinforcing fillers within the polymer matrices. The reports suggest that the mechanical properties of polymers have been improved due to the incorporation of graphene within the polymer matrices. However, excess loading of graphene into polymer matrices leads to the deterioration of mechanical strength. It was found that the mechanical properties are dependent on the nature of polymer, loading of graphene, types of graphene, and dispersion of graphene within the polymer matrices.