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Strain Sensing Based on Multiscale Composite Materials Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets
Published on: November 7, 2016
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Tuning the interface in epoxy-based composites and laminates through epoxy grafted graphene oxide enhances mechanical
Prajakta Katti1, K K Verma1, S Kumar1
1Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore-560012 Karnataka India skumar@iisc.ac.in sbose@iisc.ac.in.
Nanoscale Advances
|September 22, 2022
Summary
Grafting epoxy chains onto graphene oxide (GO) significantly enhances the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites. This tailored interface improves strength and toughness in both epoxy and carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Superior structural properties in polymer nanocomposites depend on improved reinforcement dispersion and interfacial adhesion.
- Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising reinforcement material for epoxy matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance interfacial adhesion between GO and epoxy by grafting epoxy chains onto GO.
- To investigate the impact of epoxy-grafted GO (Ep-g-GO) on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites and epoxy/carbon fiber laminates.
Main Methods:
- Functionalization of GO with epoxy chains.
- Characterization of functionalized GO using FTIR, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and XPS.
- Preparation of epoxy composites and epoxy/carbon fiber laminates with varying GO content (0.5 wt%).
- Evaluation of mechanical properties (storage modulus, hardness, fracture toughness, tensile strength, inter-laminar shear strength) and thermal stability (thermogravimetric analysis).
Main Results:
- Epoxy-grafted GO (Ep-g-GO) demonstrated improved dispersion and interfacial adhesion within the epoxy matrix.
- Epoxy composites with 0.5 wt% Ep-g-GO showed significant improvements: 40% increase in storage modulus, 70% in hardness, 39% in fracture toughness, and 8% in tensile strength compared to neat epoxy.
- Epoxy/carbon fiber laminates incorporating 0.5 wt% Ep-g-GO exhibited enhanced tensile strength (12%) and inter-laminar shear strength (9%).
- The modified composites maintained thermal stability up to 300 °C.
Conclusions:
- Grafting epoxy chains onto GO is an effective strategy to create a tailored interface, significantly enhancing the mechanical performance of epoxy nanocomposites.
- The Ep-g-GO reinforcement improves both the intrinsic properties of epoxy and the interfacial adhesion in epoxy/carbon fiber laminates.
- This approach offers a viable route for developing high-performance polymer nanocomposites for structural applications.
