Enhanced tensile and morphological properties of PET/graphene nanoplatelet composites for food packaging applications

Abstract

The development and evaluation of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composites for use in food packaging is investigated in this work.  For test specimens, composites with 0.1 wt. C%, 0.3 wt.% C, and 0.5 wt.% C GNPs were prepared using a ball milling technique, extruded into filaments, and then 3D printed. Tensile testing revealed that the addition of GNPs significantly enhanced the tensile strength of PET. The greatest improvement was achieved at 0.3 wt.% C loading, whereas particle agglomeration led to a plateau or slight decline at 0.5 wt.% C.  These patterns were supported by fracture surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed smoother brittle surfaces in neat PET and increasingly rougher morphologies with dimples and microvoids in GNP-reinforced samples, suggesting better energy absorption and crack resistance.  Overall, this study demonstrates that the tensile and morphological properties of PET are significantly enhanced through controlled GNP incorporation, highlighting its strong potential for high-strength, sustainable food packaging applications.