Structural graphene composites: Taking the lessons of fundamental studies through to bulk composites
Authors: Kinloch, I.A., Gong, L., Li, Z.L., Valles, C., Ruju, A., Abdelkader, A.M. and Young, R.J.
Journal: ICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials
Volume: 2015-July
Abstract:The exception properties of graphene make it a promising reinforcement in structural polymer composite materials [1]. We have previously studied the micromechanics of graphene composites using Raman spectroscopy to map the strain in model composite systems comprising of single graphene flakes [2,3,4]. We have showed that the graphene behaviour can be modelled using conventional composite theory despite being an atomic layer. For example, graphene follows the shear lag theory for short fibres, with a critical minimum flake length of 3 microns being required for good reinforcement. We have also shown that the modulus of graphene flakes reduces with the thickness of the flake due to poor internal stress transfer between the graphene layers [5]. We have now transferred these design rules for graphene composites to bulk systems produced by solvent casting (PVOH-graphene composites, [6]), twin screw compounding (PMMA-graphene and PP-graphene composites [7,8]) and hot curing (e.g. epoxy-graphene composites). We have explored the role of polymer-graphene interface on the properties of these composites through using different surface functionalities on the graphene flakes. The role of flake length has also been studied by using few layer graphene with controlled lengths from 100 nm to 20 micron. The 20 micron few layer flakes show particular promise as they are long enough to give good reinforcement, yet do not aggregate even at high loadings (> 10 vol%).
Source: Scopus
STRUCTURAL GRAPHENE COMPOSITES: TAKING THE LESSONS OF FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES THROUGH TO BULK COMPOSITES
Authors: Kinloch, I.A., Gong, L., Zhe, L.L., Valles, C., Ruju, A., Abdelkader, A.M. and Young, R.J.
Journal: 20TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Source: Web of Science (Lite)