Improved thermal stability of phenolic resin by graphene-encapsulated nano-SiO2 hybrids

Phenolic resin (PR) modified with hybrids of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-encapsulated nano-SiO 2 (SiO 2 –RGO) was prepared by a simple method. The synergistic effect of RGO and nano-SiO 2 was achieved in the thermal decomposition of the modified PR. Thermal stability of SiO 2 –RGO and the modified PR was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). With 1 mass% loading of SiO 2 –RGO, the maximum decomposition temperature ( T dmax ) of the modified PR was increased by 32.50 °C and the residual mass at 800 °C was increased by 6.54%. The structure of the resin char was characterized to study the mechanism of ameliorative thermal stability. SiO 2 –RGO hybrids were conducive to induce the PR to form graphitized carbon in the pyrolysis process. Thus, SiO 2 –RGO can facilitate the application of PR in the fields of heat insulation and ablation resistance.