Mechanical Properties and Tensile Fatigue of Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites

TLDR

Graphene nanoplatelets are novel nanofillers with robust polymer compatibility, high strength, and cost effectiveness. The study aimed to reinforce epoxy and epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates with GNPs to enhance their mechanical properties. The authors investigated the ultimate tensile strength and flexure properties of the GNPs/epoxy nanocomposite. Adding 0.25 wt % GPs increased the fatigue life of epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates at all cyclic stress levels, and overall ultimate tensile strength, flexure, and fatigue life were significantly improved versus neat laminates.

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are novel nanofillers possessing attractive characteristics, including robust compatibility with most polymers, high absolute strength, and cost effectiveness. In this study, GNPs were used to reinforce epoxy composite and epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates to enhance their mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of GNPs/epoxy nanocomposite, such as ultimate tensile strength and flexure properties, were investigated. The fatigue life of epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminate with GPs‐added 0.25 wt% was increased over that of neat laminates at all levels of cyclic stress. Consequently, significant improvement in the mechanical properties of ultimate tensile strength, flexure, and fatigue life was attained for these epoxy resin composites and carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite laminates.