Physico‐mechanical properties of nano‐polystyrene‐decorated graphene oxide–epoxy composites

Abstract

Nano‐polystyrene (nPS)‐decorated graphene oxide (GO) hybrid nanostructures were successfully synthesized using stepwise microemulsion polymerization, and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. XRD and FTIR spectra revealed the existence of a strong interaction between nPS and GO, which implied that the polymer chains were successfully grafted onto the surface of the GO. The nPS‐decorated GO hybrid nanostructures were compounded with epoxy using a hand lay‐up technique, and the effect of the nPS‐decorated GO on the mechanical, thermal and surface morphological properties of the epoxy matrix was investigated using a universal tensile machine, Izod impact tester, thermogravimetric analysis and contact angle measurements with a goniometer. It was observed that in the epoxy matrix, GO improved the compatibility. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

Elaboration of properties of graphene oxide reinforced epoxy nanocomposites

“…Graphene made of atomically thin carbon sheets also improves physical properties of host polymers [31,32,33,34].…”

Influence of Reduced Graphene Oxide on Epoxy/Carbon Fiber‐Reinforced Hybrid Composite: Flexural and Shear Properties under Varying Temperature Conditions

“…Four sets of samples (with/out) rGO were manufactured for flexural and shear testing using resin infusion technique. The 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt% rGO was dispersed in epoxy resin using sonication process in parallel program as in our previous studies . This was achieved by sonicating the rGO powder in acetone for a 30 min before this acetone/rGO solution was then mechanically mixed into the epoxy resin for a further 30 min.…”

Optical Properties of Composites Based on Graphene Oxide and Polystyrene

“…The interest in these composite materials was reported to be for use as flame retardants [9] and non-volatile memory devices [10]. In the case of the PS/GO composites, the following six synthesis methods were used until now: (i) suspension polymerization [11], (ii) microemulsion polymerization [12], (iii) electrostatic self-assembly [13], (iv) reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer [14], (v) in situ polymerization followed by melt process [15], and Pickering emulsion polymerization [8]. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and IR spectroscopy, the mechanisms proposed for the microemulsion and suspension polymerizations of styrene in the presence of GO were demonstrated to induce: (i) the opening of ether cycles on the GO surface [11] and (ii) the appearance of ester groups [12].…”

“…In the case of the PS/GO composites, the following six synthesis methods were used until now: (i) suspension polymerization [11], (ii) microemulsion polymerization [12], (iii) electrostatic self-assembly [13], (iv) reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer [14], (v) in situ polymerization followed by melt process [15], and Pickering emulsion polymerization [8]. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and IR spectroscopy, the mechanisms proposed for the microemulsion and suspension polymerizations of styrene in the presence of GO were demonstrated to induce: (i) the opening of ether cycles on the GO surface [11] and (ii) the appearance of ester groups [12]. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [11,12,15], transmission electron microscopy (TEM) [11][12][13][14][15] and X-ray diffraction (XRD) [11][12][13][14][15], the morphological and structural properties of the PS/GO composites were reported.…”