Evaluating the impact of functionalized graphene integration on thermal properties of CFRP composites

This study highlights the improvement in the thermal properties of CFRP composites modified with lower concentrations of graphene reinforcement (ADG-NH₂/epoxy/CFRP). Thermal properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, damping factor and glass transition temperature of the composites were investigated through dynamic mechanical analysis with a temperature scan range of 30 to 200 °C and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. Five symmetrical CFRP composite laminates were prepared through a hand layup process assisted by vacuum bagging technique using various wt. % proportions (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) of ADG-NH₂/epoxy along with a neat epoxy. A slight increase of ~ 2% in the glass transition temperature T_g was observed for the modified composites. It was observed that the ADG-NH2 composites showed ~54% increment in storage modulus E', ~ 41% increase in loss modulus E'' compared to neat epoxy CFRP laminate composites. Thermal stability values were determined through integral procedural decomposition temperature measurement and an enhancement from 389.1 to 411.9 °C was observed. Morphological properties of fracture surfaces were characterized by SEM micrographs and XRD analysis.