Effect of dispersion on graphite nanosheet composites

Abstract By intercalating and exfoliating natural graphite flakes, expanded graphite was obtained and used as the additive for making composites. The expanded graphite was composed of partly connected graphite nanosheets. Three types of composites were made, representing three levels of dispersing the graphite nanosheets. The first was the impregnation of epoxy resin to the expanded graphite by resin transfer molding. No dispersion was applied, and the expanded graphite can retain its original shape. The second was the use of a high‐power sonication to break apart the expanded graphite. The thickness of the sonicated expanded graphite was reduced to about 100 times. The third method was to use a high‐shear strain rate to separate the graphite nanosheets from the expanded graphite and to disperse them into the resin. The thickness range of the graphite nanosheets was 20–50 nm, about 100 times thinner than the sonicated ones. Compression and impact tests were conducted. The influence of dispersion on the material behavior was studied. Some fracture modes associated with the layered microstructures of the graphite nanosheets were observed. A simple model was used to study the stress transfer and frictional energy consumption of the pullout of the nanosheet. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers