Evaluation of mechanical and thermal characteristics of e-glass/epoxy composites with the inclusion of graphene nanoparticles

Laminated composites are generally made up of fibers reinforced using a polymer matrix. However, the delamination of such composites necessitates the incorporation of small quantities of nanoparticles to enhance the strong adhesion between the reinforcement and the matrix. This study evaluated the integration of graphene nanofillers as reinforcements in the epoxy matrix. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the graphene composites were assessed according to the ASTM standards to determine the effect of graphene nanoparticles mixed with an epoxy matrix. First, graphene composite samples were fabricated with varying mixing weight percentages of graphene nanoparticles (1, 2, 3 and 4%) using the hand lay-up method. The tensile, flexural, and impact behaviors of the composites were then evaluated. Thermal characterization was performed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to understand the fractography of the graphene composites. The test results confirmed that the inclusion of 3 wt% graphene nanoparticles enhanced the mechanical characteristics of the composite. In addition, the crystallization behavior and thermal stability were enhanced at a graphene content of 3%. Therefore, the inclusion of 3 wt% graphene nanoparticles in the e-glass/epoxy composite resulted in the enhancement of both the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the composite.