Effect of graphene oxide on mechanical properties of epoxy matrix and its glass fiber composite

Abstract There has been much research investigating the mechanical properties of graphene oxide/epoxy (GO/EP) nanocomposites, but few examinations have used the GO‐modified matrix to prepare glass fiber composites or experimental studies more focused on the mechanical performance of finished composites without fully evaluating GO's effects upon matric phases. This research not only assesses the effect of GO on the mechanical performance of epoxy resin but also prepares the composite based on GO/EP and glass fiber to discover how GO affects the characteristics of this kind of composite. EP was modified by a simple solution mixing at the different weight percentages (wt%) of GO, followed by a glass fiber composite fabrication process. Tests showed that adding GO improved the impact strength, fracture toughness as well as thermal stability of the epoxy matrix. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra proved that there was a low‐frequency shift of the ─OH band in modified epoxy showing an interaction of epoxy and GO. The X‐ray analysis also confirmed that GO also fully exfoliated in the matrix. The modification of epoxy resulted in an improvement in the impact and the tensile strength of composites, and that was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique.