Tailoring graphene reinforced thermoset and biothermoset composites

What is it about?

The surge of knowledge among researchers pertaining to the excellent properties of graphene has led to the utilisation of graphene as a reinforced filler in polymer composites. Different methods of graphene preparation, either bottom-up or top-down methods, are important requirements of starting materials in producing reinforced properties in the composites. The starting graphene material produced is either further functionalised or directly used as a filler in thermoset polymer matrixes. An effective interaction between graphene and polymer matrixes is important and can be achieved by incorporating graphene into a thermoset polymer matrix through melt mixing, solution mixing or in situ polymerisation processes. In addition, by taking into consideration the importance of green and sustainable composites, the details of previous work on graphene reinforced bio-thermoset polymer matrixes is dis- cussed. The resultant mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were associated to the chemical interaction between the graphene filler and a thermoset matrix. Exploration for further variations of graphene polymer composites are discussed by taking the reinforcement properties in graphene composite as a starting point.

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Why is it important?

The incorporation of graphene into nanocomposites as a filler needs a proper selection and preparation of graphene derivatives. The derivatives of graphene such as graphene, graphite, GO, fGO, and rGO have their own advantages and are possible to be added in apolymer composite. Preparation of those derivatives involved the reduction of GO and the exfoliation of the graphite sheet. The selection of the method depends on final intended graphene form and the designed application of the polymer composite. To date, both graphene and GO can be used as starting materials whether by modifying them or directly using them as fillers in nanocomposites. Graphene is further oxidised and then functionalised to be compatible with polymer matrixes. The key to a force resistance material is the stress transfer between the additive and the parent structure. To create a chemical interaction between the filler and the matrix, both must have similar active sites such as a hydrophilic group to introduce the chemical interaction. To achieve this, graphene is covalently bonded with small molecules or non-covalently bonded to a polymer matrix for potential use in polymer composites. When graphene is ready to form an interaction with a polymer matrix, nanocompos- ite-processing methods should be considered. The objective in nanocomposite processing methods is to exfoliate the staggered graphene and prepare a homogeneous dispersion of graphene in the polymer matrix. Fully dispersed graphene filler offers more points of interaction in filler-matrix, thus preventing the graphene filler from agglomerating or re-stacking among themselves. More points of interactions reflect more points of stress and heat transfer, thus reinforced mechanical and thermal properties of polymer composite are produced.

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