Solvent Exchange to Exfoliate Graphene Oxides into Epoxy with Improved Mechanical and Thermal Properties

摘要

The dispersion and exfoliation of graphene oxides in polymer matrix remains a challenge for graphene oxides based epoxy nanocomposites fabrication. In the present paper, we reported a simple and facile solvent exchange technique to successfully transfer graphene oxides (GOs) from aqueous solution to ethanol. In addition, we found that GO dispersion in epoxy resins was affected by the curing agents. Good dispersion of GOs in epoxy resin together with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties were observed when epoxy was cured with aliphatic curing agents. For aromatic curing agent, high loading of GOs leaded to GOs aggregation, but well dispersed GOs was observed at low loading of GOs. Especially, a 12°C increase of glass transition temperature of the epoxy resin was observed with only 0.1 wt% GOs was added to the epoxy resin.