Development of Hybridized Graphene Nanoplatelets/Fiber-Reinforced Composites with Enhanced Interlaminar Fracture Toughness

Abstract

In this research, the effect of inclusion of as-received graphene nanoplatelets, and chemically modified graphene nanoplatelets (i.e., graphite oxide (GO) and silane-functionalized (Si-G)), on the fracture toughness of epoxy resin and mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates are experimentally investigated. Raman spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) are employed to characterize the chemical and structural changes the modified nanoplatelets. The nanocomposites containing Si-G provide the best results for the fracture toughness (82% improvement). The critical energy release rate of all laminates also increased; however, the ones bonded with Si-G reinforced epoxy gained the most. The SEM micrographs revealed that a superior dispersion status could be obtained by GNP functionalization, in turn generating more optimum fiber/matrix interaction.