Synthesis and characterization of graphene-epoxy nanocomposites

Alperen Acar; Özgen Ümit Çolak; Deniz Uzunsoy

doi:10.3139/120.110804

Article

Synthesis and characterization of graphene-epoxy nanocomposites

Alperen Acar , Özgen Ümit Çolak and Deniz Uzunsoy

Published/Copyright: November 18, 2015

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 57 Issue 11-12

Abstract

Graphene, a monolayer of carbon atoms arranged in a two dimensional lattice, has attracted great attention in recent years due to its extra ordinary properties and potential applications. One obvious application of graphene is in the field of nano-composites. In this work, graphene platelets (GPL) reinforced with epoxy nano-composites were fabricated by using soft molding technique in two different ratios with two different solvents. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the structure of graphene and graphene reinforced composites. Tensile and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) in three point bending mode were used to investigate the mechanical properties of the composites. The tensile strength and strain to failure of nanocomposites of GPL reinforced epoxy nanocomposite were enhanced by 9.31 % and 34.78 %, respectively, while small improvement is observed in the elasticity modulus. Dynamic mechanical analysis has shown that with the addition of 0.1 and 0.5 wt.-% graphene nanoplatelets, storage modulus has increased by 20 and 46 % on the glassy region, respectively. The glass transition temperature is not affected with addition of graphene.

Kurzfassung

Graphen, eine Monolage von Kohlenstoffatomen, die in einem zweidimensionalen Gitter angeordnet sind, hat in den letzten Jahren aufgrund der außergewöhnlichen Eigenschaften und potentiellen Anwendungen große Aufmerksamkeit erregt. Eine offensichtliche Anwendung von Graphen liegt im Bereich der Nanokomposite. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag wurden mit Graphenplättchen verstärkte Epoxy-Nanokomposite mittels einer Weichpresstechnik hergestellt und zwar in zwei verschiedenen Verhältnissen und mit zwei verschiedenen Lösungsmitteln. Die Produkte wurden mittels Ramanspektroskopie und Rasterelektronenmikroskopie untersucht, um die Struktur des Graphens und der Graphen-verstärkten Komposite zu untersuchen. Es wurden Zugversuche und eine dynamische mechanische Analyse im Dreipunktbiegemodus durchgeführt, um die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Komposite zu untersuchen. Die Zugfestigkeit und die Dehnung bis zum Versagen der mit Graphenplättchen verstärkten Epoxy-Nanokomposite wurden entsprechend um 9,31 % und 34,78 % verstärkt, wobei eine geringe Verbesserung des Elastizitätsmoduls beobachtet wurde. Die dynamische, mechanische Analyse zeigte, dass mit einer Zugabe von 0,1 und 0,5 wt.-% Graphen-Nanoplättchen der Speichermodul entsprechend um 20 bzw. 46 % im glasigen Bereich ansteigt. Die Glasübergangstemperatur wird durch die Zugabe von Graphen nicht beeinflusst.

§Correspondence Address, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Uzunsoy, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Bursa University, Gaziakdemir Mahallesi, Mudanya Caddesi No 4/10, 16190 Osmangazi, Bursa, Turkey. E-mail: deniz.uzunsoy@btu.edu.tr

Alperen Acar, born in 1986, received his MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, in 2011, and is currently a PhD candidate atthe Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences of Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul. He has also been working as a research assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Yildiz Technical University since 2009. His research interests include characterization and modeling of mechanical behavior of polymeric materials, viscoelasticity and finite element analysis.

Prof. Dr. Özgen Ümit Çolak received her MSc and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA in 1995 and 2001, respectively. She is currently working at Yildiz Technical University as Professor. Her research area focuses on material model development, viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, material synthesis such as graphene and graphene based nanocomposites, material characterization, PEM fuel cell and battery technologies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Uzunsoy received her MSc and PhD degrees in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, and The University of Birmingham, UK, in 1997 and 2004, respectively. She is currently working at Bursa Technical University, Turkey, as Associate Professor. Her research expertise includes lightweight structures and materials, nano materials, automotive materials, graphene, lithium ion batteries and material characterization.

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Published Online: 2015-11-18

Published in Print: 2015-11-16

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https://doi.org/10.3139/120.110804