A novel
three-dimensional (3D) epoxy/graphene nanosheet/hydroxylated
boron nitride (EP/GNS/BNOH) hybrid aerogel was successfully fabricated
in this study. This was uniquely achieved by constructing a well-defined
and interconnected 3D network architecture. The manufacturing process
of EP/GNS/BNOH involved a simple one-pot hydrothermal strategy, followed
by the treatment of freeze-drying and high-temperature curing. In
comparison with EP/GNS-3, EP/GNS/BNOH-3 demonstrated improvement of
97% for compressive strength at 70% strain. Through compression tests,
fracture occurred for EP/GNS-3 at ninth compression cycles, whereas
EP/GNS/BNOH-3 retained its original form after twenty compression
cycles, with a residual height of 97% (i.e., only 3% reduction). By
the addition of BNOH in the polymer matrix, the dynamic heat transfer
and dissipation rates of EP/GNS/BNOH aerogels were also considerably
reduced, indicating that the aerogel with BNOH additive possessed
excellent thermal insulation properties. Thermogravimetric analysis
results revealed that the thermal stabilities of EP/GNS and EP/GNS/BNOH
aerogels were improved with increasing loading of EP, and EP/GNS/BNOH
aerogels exhibited a better thermal stability at high temperatures.
Through the elevated levels attained in the compressive strength,
superelasticity, and thermal resistance, EP/GNS/BNOH aerogels has
the great potential of being a very effective thermal insulation material
to be utilized across a board range of applications in building, automotive,
spacecraft, and mechanical systems.
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