High‐Performance Pristine Graphene/Epoxy Composites With Enhanced Mechanical and Electrical Properties

Abstract

Abstract High‐strength conductive pristine graphene/epoxy composites are prepared by two simple processing methods – freeze dry/mixing and solution processing. PVP‐stabilized graphene is aggregation‐resistant and allows for excellent dispersion in both the resin and final composite, as confirmed by optical microscopy and SEM images. The superior dispersion quality results in excellent nanofiller/matrix load transfer, with a 38% increase in strength and a 37% improvement in modulus for 0.46 vol% graphene loading. The composites have a very low electrical percolation threshold of 0.088 vol%. Despite the effectiveness of both methods, the freeze‐drying method is more promising and versatile enough to be used for graphene dispersion in a wide range of other composite precursors. magnified image