Effect of graphene on the properties of flax fabric reinforced epoxy composites

The effect of graphene as the matrix strengthener in fiber reinforced polymer composites was studied for the improvement of several properties of flax/epoxy composites. Physical and mechanical characteristics of the hybrid composite along with flammability and water absorption properties are thoroughly studied for varied quantities of graphene added to the epoxy resin. The modified epoxy resin was infused on the flax fabric using vacuum resin infusion technique. The presence of graphene in flax/epoxy composites was found to act as a flame retardant and the flammability is found to decrease with increase in graphene content. The water absorption rate was also reduced significantly to 0.1 wt% of graphene. The tensile and flexural strengths of the composites increased by 61% and 71% at 0.1 wt% of graphene but reduced for higher addition of graphene. Fractography reveals that the main mechanisms of failure were matrix fracture and interfacial debonding, predominant for higher graphene content.