Improving the dielectric properties of acrylic resin elastomer with reduced graphene oxide decorated with polystyrene

A high performance composite based on acrylic resin elastomer (AE) with a low dielectric loss and a high dielectric constant was prepared through introducing hybrid filler of chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) decorated with polystyrene cationic microspheres (PS-DMC) (referred to the composite here as PS-RGO/AE). PS-DMC can not only improve the compatibility between the filler and the matrix so that the filler is uniformly dispersed in the matrix to increase the dielectric constant of the composites, but also can be used as an insulating layer to reduce leakage current and reduce the dielectric loss of the composites. The dielectric constant of 2.43 vol% PS-RGO/AE is 194 at 100 Hz, which is 2.40 times that of the 1.55 vol% RGO/AE (81). Moreover, the dielectric loss of 2.43 vol% PS-RGO/AE composite still maintains at a low level (0.29 at 100 Hz), which is lower than that of 1.55 vol% RGO/AE composite (1.16 at 100 Hz). The higher dielectric constant of PS-RGO/AE composites is attributed to enhanced micro capacitors effect and Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect through the uniform dispersion of PS-RGO in the AE matrix and the formation of more interfaces.