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Interface engineering for the improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of covalent functionalized graphene/epoxy composites
Author(s) -
Chhetri Suman,
Adak Nitai Chandra,
Samanta Pranab,
Mallisetty Phani Kumar,
Murmu Naresh Chandra,
Kuila Tapas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.46124
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , composite material , epoxy , graphene , thermal stability , oxide , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , engineering , metallurgy
ABSTRACT Functionalized reduced graphene oxide (GO)/epoxy composites are fabricated through solution mixing. GO is functionalized using 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (TZ) in presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH). KOH is expected to serve dual role as catalyst for nucleophilic addition reaction between GO and TZ, and also as reducing agent. The grafting of TZ moiety on GO is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The prepared composites show remarkable improvement in mechanical and thermal stability. The fracture toughness of the composites (critical stress intensity factor, K IC ) achieved from single edge notched bending testing is improved by ∼111% against pure epoxy at 0.1 wt % loading of TZ functionalized GO. Further, the tensile strength and Young's modulus are improved by ∼30.5% and 35%, respectively. Thermal stability of the composites as investigated by thermogravimetric analysis showed 29 °C rise in onset degradation temperature for 0.1 wt % TZ functionalized GO incorporated composite. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 46124.