Publications

Abstract : An efficient method is developed to prepare copolymer of Poly(styrene-co-methylacrylate) using silver nanoparticle decorated reduced graphene oxide (Ag-rGO) under photocatalytic conditions using blue LED as light source. We have successfully utilised the prepared poly(styrene-co-methylacrylate) copolymer-based Ag-rGO nanocomposite (Ag-rGO/(P(S-co-MA) as a filler for reinforcing epoxy composite. Better dispersibility of the hybrid nanocomposite in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) over Ag-rGO helped in enhancing the mechanical properties of epoxy. The synthesis of P(S-co-MA)-Ag-rGO was confirmed using various characterization techniques like 1H NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR etc. The particle size distribution and surface morphology were investigated using Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The mechanical properties of P(S-co-MA)-Ag-rGO based epoxy composites showed a significant 104% of improvement in fracture toughness when compared to neat epoxy. Antibacterial performance and thermal characteristic of the fabricated epoxy composites also were investigated.