Effect of Graphite Nanoplatelet Size and Dispersion on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites
Elsye Agustina,
Jeung Choon Goak,
Suntae Lee,
Yongse Kim,
Sung Chul Hong,
Yongho Seo,
Naesung Lee
Affiliations
Elsye Agustina
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Jeung Choon Goak
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Suntae Lee
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Yongse Kim
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Sung Chul Hong
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Yongho Seo
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Naesung Lee
Hybrid Materials Center (HMC), Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
This study investigated the effect of graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) size and dispersion on the thermal conductivities and tensile strengths of epoxy-based composites. GNPs of four different platelet sizes, ranging from 1.6 to 3 µm, were derived by mechanically exfoliating and breaking expanded graphite (EG) particles using high-energy bead milling and sonication. The GNPs were used as fillers at loadings of 0–10 wt%. As the GNP size and loading amount increased, the thermal conductivities of the GNP/epoxy composites increased, but their tensile strengths decreased. However, interestingly, the tensile strength reached a maximum value at the low GNP content of 0.3% and thereafter decreased, irrespective of the GNP size. Our observations of the morphologies and dispersions of the GNPs in the composites indicated that the thermal conductivity was more likely related to the size and loading number of fillers, whereas the tensile strength was more influenced by the dispersion of fillers in the matrix.
