Performance of Graphene Derivatives Produced by Chemical and Physical Methods as Reinforcements in Glass Fiber Composite Laminates

Abstract

In this work, graphene derivatives obtained by a common chemical method and a novel physical route are evaluated as reinforcement nanomaterials on prepregs based on glass fiber and epoxy resin. Besides, two types of graphite were employed to obtain graphene derivatives, through the chemical route, and to evaluate the influence of their structure quality on the performance of the composite laminates prepared. All graphene derivatives were characterized by different techniques and specific structural features were found depending on processing method; less structural damage in the graphene derivatives obtained by steam explosion and ultrasonication (physical route) was observed. Graphene derivatives were incorporated on the surface of prepregs, which were laminated to evaluate their performance through short beam tests and dynamic-mechanical analysis. Carbon materials obtained by the physical route produced remarkable thermomechanical performance, and also, better interfacial properties in the composite laminates compared to that observed with graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide obtained from the two kinds of graphite precursor.