Enhanced interfacial adhesion in glass fiber fabric/epoxy composites employing fiber surface treatment with aminosilane-functionalized graphene oxide

An economical and effective method was developed to optimize the interface of glass fiber fabric (GFf)-reinforced epoxy composites (GFfE) by dispersing aminosilane-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) on the fiber surface. The effects of γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) or APS hydrolysis on the dispersion of GO and the interfacial properties of resultant composites were investigated in detail. The results indicated that the uniform dispersion of GO in composites and strong fiber/matrix adhesion could be achieved, based on grafting of APS hydrolysis onto GO. The interlaminar shear, flexural and tensile strengths of resultant composites were improved by 28%, 22% and 19%, respectively; the storage modulus and dynamic glass transition temperature (1 Hz) were significantly enhanced, compared with pure GFfE. In particular, the work of fracture received from interlaminar load–deflection curves increased by 97%, indicating the toughening effect of GO. This work demonstrates that it is possible to enhance the strength, stiffness and toughness of fiber-reinforced composites by incorporating GO into the interface between the fiber and the matrix.