Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
Graphene based protective and shielding coatings
These are polyetherimide/graphene oxide (PEI/GO) composites that are easy to apply on surfaces. PEI is a high-performance polymer: it has a high continuous operating temperature, excellent dimensional stability, outstanding resistance to hydrolysis, good resistance to radiation, chlorine, and caustic/acid detergents, as well as flame-retardant properties with low emission of toxic fumes. GO is a graphene flake with oxygen-containing functional groups. The integration of GO into the PEI matrix enhances both thermal and mechanical properties, as well as resistance to hostile environment.
Application sectors
Problem to solve
The mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of graphene are extraordinary (including high mechanical strength, thermal and electrical conductivity, light weight, etc.). Currently, most applications use graphene in the form of sheets (flakes) as an additive to technological polymers to improve its properties. It is possible to deposit mono-layer graphene by means of high temperature on metal substrates, from which it is transferred to suitable substrates; it is possible to produce micrometer-sized sheets of graphene by exfoliating graphite that can be incorporated into polymer matrices; graphene can be produced by direct laser writing on hexagonal-based polymers (e.g. Kapton). Synthesis methodologies currently under study: 1) Polyethylene (PEI)-Graphene Oxide (GO) composites, with high GO density (GO>;=30 wt%) 2) Laser induced graphene LIG (graphene from laser writing) from high quality PEI or Kapton.
Description
The proposed graphene synthesis methodologies are designed to make them versatile for the different applications of graphene-based coatings. Control of the synthesis parameters used allows the optimization of the desired properties of graphene-based coatings. To obtain coatings with properties as similar as possible to those of graphene produced by CVD, our approach consists in loading a polymer matrix with a high percentage of graphene/graphene oxide. In the case of producing antibacterial coatings, it is very important, for example, to be able to control the roughness of the surface linked to the antibacterial properties, by controlling the orientation of the graphene oxide flakes in the polymer matrix. To obtain coatings of fabrics as X-ray shields in the medical and space fields, the synthesis of graphene composites in a polymer matrix can be used.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- LIG is a simple way to obtain graphene form plastic
- The graphe based composites can be expanded over large surface and if the GO percentage is suffciently high, they exhibit good properties
Technological Maturity 2
Strengths
- Cost
- Social/economic relevance
- Legal/regulatory content
- Efficiency/productivity/performance
- Innovation
- Lack of technology/solution for the specific task
- Scalability
- Ease of use
- Transferability/mobility
Admissible applications
- X-ray radiation shield (also in fabric form) for medial application
- antifouling and antibacterial coating
- heat exchanger
- miniaturized antennas
Research group involved
Patent Available for Licensing
Non disponibile per una licenza
Revision date
27-05-2025
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