Improving Interfacial Adhesion of Graphite/Epoxy Composites by Surface Functionalization

Abstract

Graphite/epoxy resin (G/EP) composites are extensively utilized in bipolar plates for fuel cells owing to their outstanding electrical and mechanical properties. However, the mechanical strength of these composites declines notably due to the inadequate bonding interface between graphite and epoxy resin. To address this issue, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the influence of graphite surface functionalization on the interfacial structures of composites. The results of this study revealed that the functionalization of the graphite surface led to an increase in the interface thickness of the composite. This phenomenon can be attributed to the interdiffusion and hydrogen bond formation between functionalized graphite and epoxy molecular chains. And all four types of functional groups demonstrated a promoting effect on the adsorption process. Additionally, the adsorption and contact angle results provided further evidence that the adsorption rate of graphite to the epoxy resin significantly improved after functionalization. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the microscopic process of forming interfaces in G/EP composites. In addition, these insights provide valuable guidance for improving the interface bonding of composite bipolar plates, which can ultimately increase their mechanical strength.

Enhancement of flexural modulus and strength of epoxy nanocomposites with the inclusion of functionalized GNPs using Tween 80

“…7, nanocomposites made by T80GNPs exhibited higher modulus and higher strength compared to nanocomposites made by ARGNPs. Firstly, this could be attributed to the improved interface interaction between T80GNPs-epoxy compared to ARGNPs-epoxy [38]. It is well known that materials rich with carbon elements can be considered fairly hydrophobic and a little bit difficult to get wet due to high surface tension.…”