Sustainable Graphene Suspensions: A Reactive Diluent for Epoxy Composite Valorization

Abstract

Graphene, a novel nanofiller with excellent mechanical properties and high thermal and electrical conductivity, has the potential to enhance the value-added properties of polymer composites. In this study, we synthesized furan diepoxide (FdE) monomer and used it as a graphene dispersant. Graphene suspensions with concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL were used as epoxy reactive diluents to improve the properties of graphene/epoxy nanocomposites. The UV and Raman spectra show that π–π interactions between the graphene nanosheets and FdE stabilized the graphene in the FdE suspension. Dispersion of 2.0 mg/mL of nanosheets into an epoxy resin enhanced the tensile strength by 26.8%, tensile modulus by 40.4%, flexural strength by 21.6%, flexural modulus by 16.8%, and glass transition temperature by 7.2%.