Effectively Exerting the Reinforcement of Dopamine Reduced Graphene Oxide on Epoxy-Based Composites via Strengthened Interfacial Bonding

Abstract

The effects of dopamine reduced graphene oxide (pDop-rGO) on the curing activity and mechanical properties of epoxy-based composites were evaluated. Taking advantage of self-polymerization of mussel-inspired dopamine, pDop-rGO was prepared through simultaneous functionalization and reduction of graphene oxide (GO) via polydopamine coating. Benefiting from the universal binding ability of polydopamine, good dispersion of pDop-rGO in epoxy matrix was able to be achieved as the content of pDop-rGO being below 0.2 wt %. Curing kinetics of epoxy composites with pDop-rGO were systematically studied by nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compared to the systems of neat epoxy or epoxy composites containing GO, epoxy composites loaded with pDop-rGO showed lower activation energy (Eα) over the range of cure (α). It revealed that the amino-bearing pDop-rGO was able to react with epoxy matrix and enhance the curing reactions as an amine-type curing agent. The nature of the interactions at GO-epoxy interface was further evaluated by Raman spectroscopy, confirming the occurrence of chemical bonding. The strengthened interfacial adhesion between pDop-rGO and epoxy matrix thus enhanced the effective stress transfer in the composites. Accordingly, the tensile and flexural properties of EP/pDop-rGO composites were enhanced due to both the well dispersion and strong interfacial bonding of pDop-rGO in epoxy matrix.

Synergistic effect of hybrid graphene and boron nitride on the cure kinetics and thermal conductivity of epoxy adhesives

“…As expected, both the onset T onset and peak T P temperatures were different at all heating rates for the two systems. Compared to the BN with graphene filled epoxy adhesive, epoxy/graphene adhesive showed higher value of ( T P ) indicating that graphene might restrain during the curing reaction of the matrix . Further, higher value of T onset and T P with the addition of BN content indicates that BN act as a catalyst and facilitates the curing reaction.…”

Design, preparation, and characterization of fast cure epoxy/amine‐functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites

“…The hindered and accelerated cure, respectively, caused by GO and amine‐modified GO, were reported for systems containing very low amount of GO (0.1 wt % GO) . The results confirmed that even at such low concentration of GO there was possibility for aggregation of platelets, while proper functionalization of GO efficiently prevented aggregation leading to an accelerated curing process.…”

Graphene Oxide Immobilized PLGA‐polydopamine Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Growth Inhibition of Colon Cancer Cells

“…PLGA exhibited an exothermal peak temperature ( T m , associated with the melting process) at 358 °C (Figure C). Due to the restraint effect on the curing reaction of PLGA by the PDA coating, the T m of PLGA‐PDA and PLGA‐PDA‐GO increased to 362 and 360 °C, respectively. In this analysis, the T m of PLGA‐PDA‐GO was slightly lower than that of PLGA‐PDA, implying that the immobilized GO weakened the restraint effect.…”