Preparation and Characterization of Epoxy Nanocomposites Containing Surface-Modified Graphene Oxide

A three-step grafting procedure has been used to graft the epoxy monomers (DER332) and the curing agents (diamino diphenyl methane (DDM), onto graphene oxide (GO) surface. The surface modification of GO has been performed by grafting of Jeffamine D-2000, followed with subsequent grafting of DER332 and DDM, respectively. Fourier transform spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis indicate successful surface modification. The resulting modified GO, that is, (DED)-GO, can be well dispersed in the epoxy monomers. The epoxy nanocomposites containing different GO contents can then be prepared through curing processes. The dispersion of GO in the nanocomposites is characterized by transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the tensile strength and elongation at break of epoxy nanocomposite with only 0.2 wt % DED-GO are increased by 30 and 16% as compared with the neat epoxy resin, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis results show that 62% increase in storage modulus and 26 degrees C enhancement in the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite have been achieved with the incorporation of only 0.2 wt % of DED-GO into the epoxy. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40236.