Epoxy composites filled with one-dimensional SiC nanowires–two-dimensional graphene nanoplatelets hybrid nanofillers

Abstract

In this work, epoxy composites reinforced by one-dimensional (1D) SiC nanowires (SiC_NWs)–two-dimensional (2D) graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) hybrids have been prepared using a simple curing process. The direct iron-catalyzed heat-treatment process was designed to grow SiC nanowires on the surface of graphene nanoplatelets, acquiring a particular 1D–2D nanostructure. The SiC_NWs–GNPs hybrid nanofillers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. These analyses confirmed that single-crystalline β-SiC nanowires had been successfully fabricated with the solid carbon source (GNPs). In addition, the thermal and electrical properties of the epoxy composites with 1D–2D hybrid nanofillers fillers were investigated. The bridging effect of the SiC nanowires contributed to the homogeneous dispersion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix, which is the key factor for the enhancement of the properties of the composites. In particular, the thermal conductivity of an epoxy composite with 7 wt% SiC_NWs–GNPs is 65.2% higher than that of neat epoxy, while the electrically insulating properties of the composite are still reserved.