Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces

Graphene is a versatile constituent with many applications in novel materials demanding improved electrical conductivity and mechanical resistance. Another application reported in the literature is its use as a barrier agent to gases, lipids, and water vapor, due to its honeycomb basal structure. We...

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Main Authors: Renato Matroniani, Felipe T. Mabilia, Jéssica S. Santos, Shu H. Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol) 2025-05-01
Series:Materials Research
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000100247&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Renato Matroniani
Felipe T. Mabilia
Jéssica S. Santos
Shu H. Wang
author_facet Renato Matroniani
Felipe T. Mabilia
Jéssica S. Santos
Shu H. Wang
author_sort Renato Matroniani
collection DOAJ
description Graphene is a versatile constituent with many applications in novel materials demanding improved electrical conductivity and mechanical resistance. Another application reported in the literature is its use as a barrier agent to gases, lipids, and water vapor, due to its honeycomb basal structure. We report on a straightforward method to achieve the surface modification of different substrates by depositing a graphene dispersion. The graphene dispersion in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was prepared by liquid-phase mechanical exfoliation of graphite flakes and characterized to be comprised by multilayer graphene (mG). Ordinary commercial substrates, films produced by the packaging industry, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), paper, and cellophane (CEL) were treated by a mG dispersion using drip casting. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out on these different substrates before and after mG coating. LDPE showed irregular mG covering and aggregation, compared to the uniform distribution in PET and cellophane films, that corroborates the results obtained from tape tests. UV-Vis transmittance indicated minimal interference from the graphene layer compared to the uncoated film. The results were discussed taking into account the interplay of the surface energy of the chemical substances involved. The different modified films might work as a barrier packaging films.
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issn 1516-1439
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-a2ea8d6c83ba479d8ba72aaec76fec362025-08-20T01:56:56ZengAssociação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)Materials Research1516-14392025-05-012810.1590/1980-5373-mr-2024-0388Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer SurfacesRenato Matronianihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0640-0307Felipe T. MabiliaJéssica S. SantosShu H. WangGraphene is a versatile constituent with many applications in novel materials demanding improved electrical conductivity and mechanical resistance. Another application reported in the literature is its use as a barrier agent to gases, lipids, and water vapor, due to its honeycomb basal structure. We report on a straightforward method to achieve the surface modification of different substrates by depositing a graphene dispersion. The graphene dispersion in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was prepared by liquid-phase mechanical exfoliation of graphite flakes and characterized to be comprised by multilayer graphene (mG). Ordinary commercial substrates, films produced by the packaging industry, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), paper, and cellophane (CEL) were treated by a mG dispersion using drip casting. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out on these different substrates before and after mG coating. LDPE showed irregular mG covering and aggregation, compared to the uniform distribution in PET and cellophane films, that corroborates the results obtained from tape tests. UV-Vis transmittance indicated minimal interference from the graphene layer compared to the uncoated film. The results were discussed taking into account the interplay of the surface energy of the chemical substances involved. The different modified films might work as a barrier packaging films.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000100247&lng=en&tlng=enGraphenebarriersurface energycoating
spellingShingle Renato Matroniani
Felipe T. Mabilia
Jéssica S. Santos
Shu H. Wang
Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
Materials Research
Graphene
barrier
surface energy
coating
title Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
title_full Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
title_fullStr Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
title_short Enhancing Packaging Materials: A Microstructural Investigation of Graphene Dispersion on Polymer Surfaces
title_sort enhancing packaging materials a microstructural investigation of graphene dispersion on polymer surfaces
topic Graphene
barrier
surface energy
coating
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000100247&lng=en&tlng=en
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AT felipetmabilia enhancingpackagingmaterialsamicrostructuralinvestigationofgraphenedispersiononpolymersurfaces
AT jessicassantos enhancingpackagingmaterialsamicrostructuralinvestigationofgraphenedispersiononpolymersurfaces
AT shuhwang enhancingpackagingmaterialsamicrostructuralinvestigationofgraphenedispersiononpolymersurfaces