Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelets Dispersion on the Enhancement of Tensile Strength, Thermal and Electrical Conductivity of Polymer Nano-Composites

The characterization of mechanical, thermal and electrical conductivity of samples containing homogenous mixtures of Epoxy matrix diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and varying amount of graphene using solution compounding method coupled with high shear mixing were carried out in this study. The measurement of tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity of the produced samples at 24oC (ambient) temperature was carried out using the universal tensile, A lasercomp Fox 50 and Keithlev 8009 electrometer testing machine in accordance to ASTM E8/E8M-13M, C518/ISO 83011 and ASTM D257-14 respectively. The magnitude of the tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity increased evidently with an increase in percentage weight fraction of the GNPs. The fractured surfaces of the tensile strength test samples were further examined by scanning electron microscopy. There is an increase in the tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity of epoxy-graphene nano-composites post cured with microwave compared to samples post cured with conventional autoclave oven as well as cast neat epoxy. The use of solution compounding coupled with high shear mixing as dispersion technique influences the homogeneity and mechanical properties of the nano-composites positively. It is concluded that epoxy-graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites possess better qualities in terms of tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity for light weight and high strength industrial applications. This work find application in the automobile, electronics and aerospace industries in their quest for sustainable material development.