Single Layer Graphene Oxide Sheets-Epoxy Nanocomposites with Greatly Improved Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Abstract

The single layer graphene oxide (GO) sheets-epoxy nanocomposites were prepared by directly dispersing concentrated GO aqueous colloid into dimethylformamide (DMF), and then incorporating the mixed solution into epoxy resin. The mechanical and thermal properties of the as-prepared nanocomposites were investigated by Notched Izod impact tests and thermogravimetric analysis. Significant improvements in both impact strength and thermal properties were observed for the nanocomposites at very low level of GO loading content. The impact strength of the nonacomposites containing 0.15 wt% GO was 10.66±0.75 MPa, which was 165.84 % higher than that of the pure epoxy resin (4.01±0.52 MPa). The decomposition temperature of the nanocomposites containing 0.3 wt % GO increased about 12 °C. The effective reinforcement of the GO based epoxy nanocomposites can be attributed to the good dispersion and the strong interfacial interactions between the GO sheets and the epoxy resin matrices.