Investigation of covalently grafted polyacrylate chains onto graphene oxide for epoxy composites with reinforced mechanical performance

To enhance the dispersion and interfacial interaction of graphene–epoxy matrix, polyacrylate chains grafted graphene oxide (PA-GO) was manufactured with A-174 functionalized GO (A-GO), methyl acrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate via free-radical random copolymerization technique. Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance were performed to investigate the structure of A-GO and PA-GO. Then, the PA-GO was incorporated into epoxy resin via in situ solution intercalation dispersion method in order to form an interpenetrating network structure with epoxy resin. Field emission scanning electron microscope results indicate that the PA-GO exhibits excellent dispersion and interfacial compatibility in the epoxy matrix. In compared with pure epoxy, the tensile strength and impact strength of the epoxy composite with 1 wt % PA-GO were shifted from 62.78 ± 2.54 to 70.68 ± 2.02 MPa (about 12.6%) and 3.55 ± 0.41 to 4.98 ± 0.33 kJ m −2 (about 40.3%), respectively. Moreover, increased storage modulus is also observed in the dynamic mechanical analysis measurements compared with that of neat epoxy resin. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47842.