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
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.
