UV curing of perfluoropolyether oligomers containing graphene nanosheets to enhance water-vapor barrier properties

Recently, graphene and its derivative nanosheets have been considered as potential candidates for gas barrier membranes. Here, the effect on the water-vapor barrier properties of incorporating graphene nanoplatelets into a UV-curable perfluoropolyether methacrylic oligomer is investigated. By combining the hydrophobicity of the highly fluorinated polymer with the tortuous path induced by the graphene sheets, the barrier properties of the crosslinked films are further enhanced, acting both on the thermodynamic (low solubility) and kinetic (longer diffusion path) contribution of the water-vapor diffusion through the polymeric films. Good performance in increasing water-vapor barrier properties at a very low filler loading is obtained: the permeability is halved in the presence of only 0.3 wt% graphene. Graphene nanoplatelets are incorporated into a UV-curable perfluoropolyether methacrylic oligomer to increase the water-vapor barrier properties of the crosslinked material. Even with a very low filler loading (0.3 wt% graphene) excellent performance is obtained: the permeability of the material is significantly decreased due to the good dispersion of the filler into the matrix.