Epoxy Resin Catalyzed by Graphite-Based Nanofillers

Abstract

Abstract Graphene stacks/epoxy nanocomposites were produced and characterized in order to analyse the effect of different graphene precursors on cure reaction of a model epoxy matrix. A kinetic analysis of the cure mechanism of the epoxy resin associated to the catalytical activity of the graphite based fillers was performed by isothermal DSC measurements. The DSC results showed that the addition of all graphite based fillers greatly increased the enthalpy of epoxy reaction and the reaction rate, confirming the presence of a catalytic activity of graphitic layers on the crosslinking reaction between the epoxy resin components (epoxide oligomer and di-amine). A kinetic modelling analysis, arising from an autocatalyzed reaction mechanism, was finally applied to isothermal DSC data, in order to predict the cure mechanism of the epoxy resin in presence of the graphite based nanofiller.