Preparation and Properties of Graphene/Nanocopper Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composites

Abstract

This work describes a novel epoxy resin (EP) composite which is reinforced by graphene/nanocopper composites. Nanocopper is supported on the layer of the graphene by thermal reduction method, forming the graphene/nanocopper composites (graphene/Cu) and by the emulsion dispersion method to make the graphene/Cu homogeneously dispersed among the epoxy resin, respectively, to achieve the enhancement of the mechanical property and the heat resistance of this novel epoxy resin. The result shows that the modified resin has more excellent mechanical property and the heat resistance compared with most of the epoxy resin samples that are unmodified. The best modified research in the work shows the mechanical property and heat resistance of the modified epoxy resin are different when changing the content of graphene/Cu in the modified epoxy resin. By the scanning electron microscope method, it is found out that when the content of graphene/Cu is within 1.9 wt%, the graphene/Cu in the epoxy resin has good dispersion, it is found out that the mechanical tensile strength, elastic modulus and shearing strength of modified epoxy resin will be enhanced, however, the excess of graphene/Cu can cause a decline in the mechanical properties of epoxy resin. In addition, in the dynamic thermodynamic analysis, it is discovered that when the content of graphene/Cu is changed within limits, the glass transition temperature of modified epoxy resin gradually rises. Finally, the excellent mechanics capability and heat resistance of EP/graphene/Cu composites will add immensely to the development and research of the modification of epoxy resin.