Session: PMSE/POLY Poster Session:

Oxidative degradation of asphalt mixtures is one of the major causes of roadway deterioration resulting in major expenses for roadway repair. Amine-functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB-NH₂) of varying molecular weights (1150, 2450 and 3150 g/mol) was grafted onto a graphene oxide aerogel (aGO) to yield PIB-modified graphene oxide (PIB-g-GO), which exhibits excellent oxygen barrier properties. The relationship between the molecular weight of PIB in PIB-g-GO nanoparticles and the ability of these particles to readily disperse in a matrix and provide oxygen barrier properties was analyzed. Grafting of PIB-NH₂ onto the aGO was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All films were tested in a MOCON instrument for oxygen barrier properties. Films containing unmodified GO exhibited a modest decrease of 22.9% in oxygen permeation while films containing PIB-g-GO resulted in a 65.0% decrease in oxygen permeation.

Ms. Dana Michelle Pinson

Graduate Student, University of Southern Mississippi

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