Fluorinated functionalization of graphene oxide and its role as a reinforcement in epoxy composites

Abstract

This study was carried out to explore the effects of graphene oxide modified with fluorinated-diol (GOFO) on the properties of the epoxy resin. Fluorinated graphene oxide (GOFO) was prepared by one-step reaction with a fluorinated diol. The fluorinated functionalized graphene oxide was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Thermogravimetric analysis. Epoxy/ fluorinated graphene oxide composites were prepared by dispersing the prepared graphene material in epoxy resin based on Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol-A (DGEBA), followed by curing with 4, 4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). The epoxy composites were examined for its mechanical properties, thermal stability, water uptake, and the water contact angle. Results show that the addition of the proper content of GOFO can enhance the performances of epoxy resin. Epoxy composite tensile and flexural modulus increased by 12.52% and 62.85%, respectively with 0.5 wt.% GOFO loading. Epoxy composite with 0.3 wt.% GOFO shows high thermal stability. The T_5%, T_50%, and T_dec were 13 ^o C, 15 ^o C, and 13 ^o C, respectively, higher than pure epoxy. Besides that, the incorporation of 0.3 wt.% GOFO significantly decreases the water uptake from 0.432% for the pure epoxy to 0.304%. In addition, the water contact angle increases from 68.72^o of pure epoxy to 98.65^o for 0.3 wt.% epoxy composite.

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