High performance graphene oxide/epoxy nanocomposites fabricated through the solvent exchange method

In this study, a new simple solvent exchange method was employed to fabricate graphene oxide (GO)/epoxy nanocomposites. The structure and morphology of GO nanoplatelets and nanocomposites were extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Examining the mechanical properties of nanocomposites indicates that the incorporation of only 0.05 phr GO into the epoxy resin increases the tensile modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break by 7.2%, 10.1%, and 34.5%, respectively, as compared with the neat epoxy. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) results indicate that the storage modulus (E') shows a similar trend to the tensile modulus and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the epoxy significantly drops from 57.2° C to 47.9° C with the incorporation of 0.05 phr GO and then slightly increased with the further addition of GO. In addition, based on fracture toughness results, a remarkable improvement in the critical stress intensity factor (K1C) and critical strain energy release rate (G1C) was observed. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the toughening mechanism of the nanocomposites was carried out using SEM tests on the fracture surfaces. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2497–E2505, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers