Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hierarchical Composites Enhanced by Pristine Graphene and Graphene Oxide Nanoinclusions

作者：Zhang B; Asmatulu R^*; Soltani S A; Le L N; Kumar S S A

来源：Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2014, 131(19): 40826.

DOI：10.1002/app.40826

• composites
• graphene and fullerenes
• mechanical properties
• nanotubes
• thermal properties

Epoxy resin nanocomposites incorporated with 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt % pristine graphene and modified graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes were produced and used to fabricate carbon fiber-reinforced and glass fiber-reinforced composite panels via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. Mechanical and thermal properties of the composite panels-called hierarchical graphene composites-were determined according to ASTM standards. It was observed that the studied properties were improved consistently by increasing the amount of nanoinclusions. Particularly, in the presence of 4 wt % GO in the resin, tensile modulus, compressive strength, and flexural modulus of carbon fiber (glass fiber) composites were improved 15% (21%), 34% (84%), and 40% (68%), respectively. Likewise, with inclusion of 4 wt % pristine graphene in the resin, tensile modulus, compressive strength, and flexural modulus of carbon fiber (glass fiber) composites were improved 11% (7%), 30% (77%), and 34% (58%), respectively. Also, thermal conductivity of the carbon fiber (glass fiber) composites with 4% GO inclusion was improved 52% (89%). Similarly, thermal conductivity of the carbon fiber (glass fiber) composites with 4% pristine graphene inclusion was improved 45% (80%). The reported results indicate that both pristine graphene and modified GO nanoflakes are excellent options to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites and to make them viable replacement materials for metallic parts in different industries, such as wind energy, aerospace, marine, and automotive.

• 出版日期2014-10-5