摘要：
A composition comprising light-cured photopolymer and graphene, wherein the graphene is substantially in parallel alignment in the light-cured photopolymer. The composition is suitable for use as a synthetic barrier material (108). Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material (108) comprising dispersing graphene (104, 106) in a photocurable resin (102), and applying an electric field to polarically align the graphene (104, 106) in the photocurable resin (102).
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A synthetic barrier material (108) comprising:
light-cured photopolymer (102); and
graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200),
wherein the graphene nanoplatelets are in substantially parallel alignment in the light-cured photopolymer.
2. A synthetic barrier material (108) of claim 1, wherein the graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200) are substantially separated by light-cured photopolymer (102).
3. A synthetic barrier material (108) of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the graphene of the graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200) comprises a grafted functionalized alkyl silyl group.
4. A synthetic barrier material (108) of claim 3, wherein the alkyl silyl group is functionalized with a group selected from -OH, NH2. 5, A synthetic barrier material (108) of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the alkyl group comprises a C2 to C5, preferably linear, alkyl group. 6. A synthetic barrier material (108) of claim 3, wherein the functionalized alkyl silyl group is 3-amino-n-propylsilyl.
7. A synthetic barrier material (108) of any preceding claim, wherein the synthetic barrier material is in the form of a film for packaging. 8. A synthetic barrier material (108) of any preceding claim, wherein the light-cured photopolymer (102) comprises styrenic, acrylic or vinylic polymer.
9. A synthetic barrier material (108) of any preceding claim, wherein each graphene nanoplatelet (104, 106, 200) has a thickness in a range of 5-10 nanometres and a diameter in a range of 15-50 micrometres.
10. A synthetic barrier material (108) of any preceding claim, wherein the synthetic barrier material has a graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200) content in the range of 1 to 5% by weight.
11. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material (108), the synthetic barrier material comprising graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200),
wherein the method comprises:
a) dispersing the graphene nanoplatelets in a photocurable
resin; and
b) applying an electric field to polarically align the graphene
nanoplatelets in the photocurable resin.
12. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:
Cc) applying a light source to cure the photocurable resin in which
the graphene nanoplatelets have been dispersed and polarically
aligned.
13. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 12, wherein successive layers of synthetic barrier material are built up by repetition of steps a) to c).
14. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 13, wherein the synthetic barrier material is in the form of a film for packaging.
15. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the method further comprises pre-treating the graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200) using a chemical treatment process before applying the method of claim 11, and wherein the graphene nanoplatelets are grafted graphene nanoplatelets, and wherein the chemical treatment process comprises:
treating virgin graphene nanoplatelets with a mineral acid, optionally in the presence of an oxidizing agent for pre-determined time period at pre-determined temperature;
filtering the treated virgin graphene nanoplatelets;
dispersing the filtered graphene nanoplatelets in water to obtain a nanoplatelet suspension;
dissolving a functionalized alkyl silane ester in water-soluble non- aqueous solvent to obtain a silane solution; and
combining the nanoplatelet suspension with the silane solution to obtain grafted graphene nanoplatelets.
16. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 15, wherein the mineral acid is an oxidizing agent.
17. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 15, wherein the oxidizing agent is potassium dichromate.
18. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 17, wherein the mineral acid is sulphuric acid.
19. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the functionalized alkyl silane ester is functionalized with a group selected from -OH, NH2.
20. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the alkyl group of the functionalized alkyl silane ester comprises a C2 to C5, preferably linear, alkyl group. 21. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the functionalized alkyl silane ester is 3- amino-n-propyltriethoxysilane.
22. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the photocurable resin (102) comprises
styrenic, acrylic or vinylic monomers or oligomers thereof and a photo- initiator.
23. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 22 wherein the photocurable resin (102) comprises acrylic oligomers or methacrylic acid esters.
24. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 23 wherein the photocurable resin (102) comprises epoxy diacrylate or glycol diacrylate.
25. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of claim 24 wherein the photo-initiator is selected from organic peroxides, azo-dyes, cationic onium salts.
26. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 11 to 25, wherein each graphene nanoplatelet (104, 106, 200) has a thickness in a range of 5-10 nanometres and a diameter in a range of 15-50 micrometres.
27. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claims 11 to 26, wherein the synthetic barrier material has a graphene nanoplatelets (104, 106, 200) content in the range 1 to 5% by weight. 28. A method of manufacturing a synthetic barrier material of any one of claim 11 to 27, wherein the method comprises generating the electric field by using a direct-current voltage, and wherein the electric field generated is in the range 100 to 1000 Volts/centimetre.