Abstract:
Epoxy resins have been extensively utilized for mechanical strength applications in the field of aerospace, automobiles,
marine, defence, etc. Improving the strength as well as fracture behaviour of the light weight materials is challenging.
Present work is an attempt to enhance elastic modulus, hardness and fracture resistance simultaneously by reinforcing
the epoxy (bisphenol-A) matrix with a new-age two-dimensional atomically thin graphene oxide filler. Wet chemical
oxidation method was used to prepare graphene oxide sheets. Morphological study of the synthesized graphene oxide
was carried out using scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transformed infrared, ultraviolet–visible and Raman spectroscopic
techniques were also employed to ascertain the synthesis of graphene oxide. The results confirmed the
synthesis of well oxidized graphene oxide sheets. The prepared graphene oxide sheets were then sonicated in acetone
solution to ensure better dispersion in the bisphenol-A graphene oxide nano-composite using 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt.%
graphene oxide reinforcement. Solution mixing method was used to synthesize the polymer nano-composite. Scanning
electron microscopy results revealed the smooth dispersion of graphene oxide in the bisphenol-A matrix. Nano-indentation
of the bisphenol-A graphene oxide nano-composite showed a considerable jump in elastic modulus at 1 wt.% and
hardness at 0.50 wt.% of graphene oxide reinforcement. Fracture resistance of bisphenol-A graphene oxide composite as
represented by ratio of elastic modulus to hardness was enhanced by 24% as compared to the pristine bisphenol-A. Our
results demonstrate a promising way to improve the mechanical characteristics of epoxy resins through graphene oxide
reinforcement at low weight percentages.
