Reduced silanized graphene oxide/epoxy-polyurethane composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.07.058
• Publication Date: 2014-08-12T20:30:53Z
• Authors: Jing Lin; Peipei Zhang; Cheng Zheng; Xu Wu; Taoyan Mao; Mingning Zhu; Huaquan Wang; Danyan Feng; Shuxuan Qian; Xianfang Cai
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of reduced silanized graphene oxide/epoxy-polyurethane (EPUAs/R-Si-GEO) composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. Graphene oxide (GEO), prepared from natural graphite flakes, was modified with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane to prepare silanized GEO (Si-GEO), and was then reduced by NaHSO 3 to prepare R-Si-GEO (partially reduced Si-GEO). EPAc/R-Si-GEO (R-Si-GEO/epoxy acrylate copolymers) was synthesized via an in situ polymerization of R-Si-GEO and epoxy acrylic monomers. EPUAs/R-Si-GEO was obtained by curing reaction between EPAc/R-Si-GEO and an isocyanate curing agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the surface and crystal structure of the modified graphene and EPUAs/R-Si-GEO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize their morphology. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile strength, elongation at break, and cross-linking density measurements showed that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of EPUAs/R-Si-GEO were greatly enhanced by the addition of R-Si-GEO.