Surface modification effects on the tensile properties of functionalised graphene oxide epoxy films

Graphene oxide (GO) is a candidate for nanofillers to improve the mechanical and thermal stability of nanocomposites. In order to determine the molecular interaction to improve the mechanical properties of GO–epoxy resin composites, we investigated the relationship between GO oxidation properties and the tensile strength of the epoxy resin. With respect to GO preparation, graphite was oxidised by the Brodie or Hummers method, and the oxidised GO was reduced or chloride substituted. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectral patterns indicate that a shorter Brodie oxidation method GO (B-GO) is associated with a higher proportion of hydroxyl groups. The oxidised GO materials, with the exception of the sample produced by the 54 h Brodie oxidation method, improved the tensile strength of the composites while the epoxy resin with reduced or chlorinated GO did not increase the tensile strength of the film. Based on XPS and elemental analyses, the improvement in the tensile strength is due to the presence of O atom based functional groups, such as hydroxyl groups, on the GO surface. The interaction between the epoxy resin and O atom based functional groups on the GO contributes to improving the tensile strength of the composites.