A review on Graphene Polymer Nanocomposites in Harsh Operating Conditions

Development of high-performance composites operating in harsh conditions is gaining tremendous attention due to their broad applications in mass transport, defense, energy, manufacturing, electronics, healthcare, and so forth. Some of the current challenges include the development of lightweight composites suitable for high or low temperatures, high impacts, and corrosive or radiation environments. Among various nanomaterials, graphene based materials have emerged as the most popular class of nanoadditive which can revolutionize every industry sectors. Herein, we briefly discuss the properties of graphene as a prospective additive for high-performance composites. The review focuses on the functional properties of graphene-polymer nanocomposites in a wide range of harsh operational conditions, such as cryo-mechanical properties, ballistic impact resistance, thermal conductivity, deicing/anti-icing behavior, self-cleaning, sensing properties and flame retardant properties. Finally, we conclude with a brief outlook for the development of graphene-polymer nanocomposites for harsh conditions by discussing the major progress, challenges, and opportunities.