Tailoring the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Phenolic Aerogels with Graphene Oxide

Phenolic aerogels offer low thermal conductivity, excellent thermal stability, and high char yield, but they suffer from intrinsic brittleness, low compressive modulus, and limited compressive strain. To overcome these limitations, phenolic aerogels modified with graphene oxide were synthesized and their structural, mechanical, and thermal insulation properties were evaluated. The GO fillers were uniformly dispersed in the phenolic matrix without disrupting its porous structure. Mechanical testing revealed that the modified aerogel achieved a compressive modulus of 265.52 MPa, representing a 67% increase over the pure phenolic aerogel's value of 158.49 MPa, and a compressive strength of 40.19 MPa, compared to 6.18 MPa, for the pure sample. At the same time, the composite maintained good thermal insulation performance, with a thermal conductivity of 0.063 W·m^-1·K^-1. This work demonstrates a feasible approach to tailoring the structure-property relationship of phenolic aerogels via GO modification, supporting their potential use in high-temperature insulation and lightweight structural applications.