Abstract
We present an easy and effective way to improve the mechanical properties of an epoxy matrix by reinforcing it with a combination of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). These nanocomposites were prepared with different load of nanofillers: 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, 1.0 wt% and a neat epoxy. Ratios of graphene oxide and reduced graphene (GO : RGO) employed were: 0 : 1, 0.25 : 0.75, 0.5 : 0.5, 0.75 : 0.25, and 1 : 0. Results show that with only 0.4 wt% and a ratio 0.2 : 0.75 of GO : RGO, tensile strength and tensile toughness are 52% and 152% higher than neat epoxy while modulus of elasticity was improved~20%. The obtained results suggest that it is possible achieve advantageous properties by combining graphene in oxidized and reduced conditions as it shows a synergic effect by the presence of both nanofillers.
Highlights
Graphene is a single two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms bound in a hexagonal lattice structure
New bands appear for graphene oxide such as a signal at 3162 cm−1 corresponding to OH groups
After the reduction step using L-AA, most of the oxygen groups disappeared and the resulting spectrum tends to be like crystalline graphite spectrum, even though a few oxygen groups remain over the nanosheets
Summary
Graphene is a single two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms bound in a hexagonal lattice structure. Graphene has been mixed with carbon nanotubes in order to enhance the performance of the reinforced matrix. Young et al [9] published a review concerning graphene and graphene oxide nanocomposites evaluating these materials’ properties They comment that graphene oxide has some advantages over graphene, such as facility to obtain it in large quantities, presence of functional groups for bonding with a polymer matrix, easy to exfoliate and disperse it, in water or a polar solvent, and can be readily mixed with water-soluble polymers [10]. In this work it is proposed to use different graphene oxide and reduced graphene mixtures as reinforcement to enhance compatibility with an epoxy matrix keeping enough oxygen groups to bind to the polymer
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