Effect of Ozone Treatment on Fracture Toughness of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced Epoxy Resin Initiated by a Thermal Latent Catalyst

Enhanced Electrical Properties and Impact Strength of Phenolic Formaldehyde Resin Using Silanized Graphene and Ionic Liquid

In this study, to improve the electrical properties and impact strength of phenolic formaldehyde (PF) resin, PF-based composites were prepared by mixing graphene and the ionic liquid 3-decyl-bis(1-vinyl-1H-imidazole-3-ium-bromide) (C10[VImBr]2) via hot blending and compression-curing processes. The graphene surface was modified using a silane coupling agent. The synergistic effect of graphene and C10[VImBr]2 on the electrical properties, electromagnetic shielding efficiency, thermal stability, impact strength, and morphology of PF/graphene and PF/graphene/C10[VImBr]2 composites was then investigated. It was found that the electrical conductivity of the composites significantly increased from 2.3 × 10-10 to 4.14 × 10-3 S/m with an increase in the graphene content from 0 to 15 wt %, increasing further to 0.145 S/m with the addition of 5 wt % C10[VImBr]2. The electromagnetic shielding efficiency of the composite increased from 4.70 to 28.64 dB with the addition of 15 wt % graphene, while the impact strength of the composites rose significantly from 0.59 to 1.13 kJ/m2 with an increase in the graphene content from 0 to 15 wt %, reaching 1.53 kJ/m2 with the addition of 5 wt % C10[VImBr]2. Scanning electron microscopy images of the PF/GNP/C10[VImBr]2 composites revealed a rough morphology with numerous microcracks.

Recent Trends of Foaming in Polymer Processing: A Review

Polymer foams have low density, good heat insulation, good sound insulation effects, high specific strength, and high corrosion resistance, and are widely used in civil and industrial applications. In this paper, the classification of polymer foams, principles of the foaming process, types of blowing agents, and raw materials of polymer foams are reviewed. The research progress of various foaming methods and the current problems and possible solutions are discussed in detail.

Thermal and Mechanical Interfacial Behaviors of Graphene Oxide-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Cured by Thermal Latent Catalyst

A series of composites was prepared from a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with different graphene filler contents to improve their mechanical performance and thermal stability. Graphene oxide (GO) and GO modified with hexamethylene tetraamine (HMTA) were selected as reinforcing agents. As a latent cationic initiator and curing agent, N-benzylepyrizinium hexafluoroantimonate (N-BPH) was used. The effect of fillers and their contents on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites were studied. Fracture toughness improved by 23% and 40%, and fracture energy was enhanced by 1.94- and 2.27-fold, for the composites containing 0.04 wt.% GO and HMTA-GO, respectively. The gradual increase in fracture toughness at higher filler contents was attributed to both crack deflection and pinning mechanisms. Maximum thermal stability in the composites was achieved by using up to 0.1 wt.% graphene fillers.