Characterization and Mechanical Studies of Reduced Graphene Oxide Filled Glass Fabric Thermosets

Developing new-age lightweight materials is still a great challenge for structural applications. Employing composites with micro-scale fillers delivers the restricted exploitation of prepared composite properties due to the size of the fillers utilized in it. Hence, the present study involves the characterization of as received reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticle through UV-spectroscopy and morphology study of the rGO nanoparticle through SEM analysis. Preparation of rGO-based nanocomposites has been done through a manual hand layup route by utilizing E-glass/epoxy as with the volume fraction of 60:40 ratio. Mixing of rGO was done through magnetic stirrer to ensure proper mixing of rGO in epoxy matrix with varied weight ratio of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1%. Mechanical tests including tensile, bending, and impact tests have been done as per the ASTM standards to investigate the influence of rGO nanoparticles on fiber-reinforced thermosets. It is found from the experimental results that reduced graphene oxide affects significantly on bending strength of the composites with optimal loading yields maximum loading capacity as compare to neat sample. Similarly, tensile modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and impact characteristics were also varied considerably with varied rGO percentage in epoxy matrix.