Thermal and phase transformation behavior of epoxy‐functional graphene oxide/liquid crystalline epoxy composite

In this study, epoxy‐functional graphene oxide/liquid crystalline epoxy (efGO/LCE) composite was obtained by mixed LCE with efGO, which was obtained by modifying graphene oxide (GO) with LCE in alkaline condition. The influence of efGO content on glass transition temperature (T_g), thermal stability, and phase transformation behaviors of the composite were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized optical microscopy. The results reveal that the right amount of efGO can keep the LC property of LCE while GO inhibits the formation of LC phase of LCE. POM photographs of efGO/LCE composites show clear bright specks under polarized light, suggesting heterogeneous nucleation effects is in favor of formation of LC phase. Moreover, the initial decomposition temperature of efGO/LCE composite is increased to 380°C from that of pure LCE at 350°C when efGO content is 1 wt%. It suggests that efGO is effective to increase thermal decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature (T_g) due to cross‐linking between efGO and LCE. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1391–E1397, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers