Influence of microstructural features on thermal expansion coefficient in graphene/epoxy composites

Zhan Shi; Xiao-Fei Li; Hua Bai; Wei-Wei Xu; Shui-Yuan Yang; Yong Lu; Jia-Jia Han; Cui-Ping Wang; Xing-Jun Liu; Wei-Bin Li

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00094

Heliyon (Mar 2016)

Influence of microstructural features on thermal expansion coefficient in graphene/epoxy composites

Zhan Shi,
Xiao-Fei Li,
Hua Bai,
Wei-Wei Xu,
Shui-Yuan Yang,
Yong Lu,
Jia-Jia Han,
Cui-Ping Wang,
Xing-Jun Liu,
Wei-Bin Li

Affiliations

Zhan Shi: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Xiao-Fei Li: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Hua Bai: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Wei-Wei Xu: School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, PR China
Shui-Yuan Yang: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Yong Lu: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Jia-Jia Han: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Cui-Ping Wang: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Xing-Jun Liu: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China
Wei-Bin Li: School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, PR China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00094
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 3

Abstract

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In this paper, theoretical calculations were conducted to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) based on the effective medium approach using Green’s function method. The influences of microstructural features were investigated, including volume fraction, aspect ratio, and the orientation of graphene fillers. Calculated results demonstrated strong anisotropy of CTE when all graphene sheets in the composite were aligned in the in-plane direction due to the large difference between the elastic moduli of the graphene and epoxy. The in-plane CTE in the graphene/epoxy composite can be effectively reduced with small additions of graphene additive. Orientation dispersion among the graphene fillers significantly decreases the anisotropy of CTE. Accounting for the influences of all microstructural features, simulation results closely align with current experimental results. This work will provide a general guideline and a solid foundation for the optimal design and preparation of graphene/polymer composites.

Published in Heliyon

ISSN: 2405-8440 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General); Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/home

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