Influence of exfoliated graphite filler size on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical polymer properties

Abstract

Exfoliated graphite has attracted significant research interest, especially with respect to composite manufacturing as a sheet shape material for enhancing their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties with cost-effectiveness. It has been proved in different researches that size of nanoparticles plays a vital role and has significant effect. So, in this study, exfoliated graphite with three different sizes i.e. 50 mesh (large dimension), 100 mesh (medium size), and 150 mesh (small size) are integrated in epoxy to examine their effect on the mechanical/electrical/thermal performance of the material and for each mesh size range of 0.5 wt.% to 20 wt.% is utilized. These three systems of reinforced epoxy with different size of exfoliated graphite are evaluated in DIGIMAT simulation software by investigating their electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. The numerical results showed that integration of exfoliated graphite in neat epoxy drastically improved its electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance. In addition, it was found that the use of the bigger size was more effective on the performance of the material, which is probably because of the enhanced connectivity between the structuring sheets. Moreover, a gradual increase in properties is observed with increasing the percentage of exfoliated graphite content in each system. This numerical study was developed in accordance to validate the experimental study conducted by Debelak et al. This study further provides the evidence of the appropriateness of the DIGIMAT simulation as an investigational load in relevant research.

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“…Among numerous nanofillers [32][33][34][35], vermiculite (VMT), silver (Ag), and graphene oxide (GO) nanofillers are operational in improving the physical properties and crystallization of PLA owing to their excellent physical properties, comprising their high aspect ratio and imperative surface area [36][37][38][39][40].…”

A contactless characterization of CNT/Epoxy nanocomposites behavior under acid exposure

“…These qualities are beneficial for many industrial applications such as construction, aerospace, electronics, medicine, and sports. The improvements range from lightweight structures to enhanced mechanical, electrical, and thermal performance [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Study of mechanical performance of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with exfoliated graphite of different mesh sizes using micro-indentation

“…To reduce their huge prices [10] and the inappropriate handling associated with them [27], it is better to produce nanofillers. For example, exfoliated Graphite is mentioned in this case as replacement reinforcement into polymer improvement, which is a light carbon material with a couple of unique characteristics such as resistance to aggressive media, improved specific surface area, and flexibility [2] [12] [28]. The SEM image in Figure 1 presents the exfoliated graphite morphology.…”

“…This is due to the vital surface area for ExG that improves the degree of interaction [2]. Therefore, the size of the ExG has to be prudently chosen to optimize the performance of polymers [28]. improving epoxy's toughness.…”

“…2 Therefore, the size of the ExG has to be prudently chosen to optimize the performance of polymers. 28 Wang et al 29 revealed that an increase in epoxy toughness largely depends on the graphene sheets' size. Zhao and Hoa 30 studied the effect of twodimensional nanofillers' particle size on improving epoxy's toughness.…”