A ternary multiscale nanocomposite system based on functionalized graphene oxide, carbon fibers and bio-based polybenzoxazine for electromagnetic shielding

Abstract

Carbon fiber nanocomposites are widely used in numerous domains such automotive, aerospace, electronics and construction due to their excellent performance. They play a crucial role in electromagnetic shielding due to their unique electrical conductivity, lightweight structure, and mechanical strength. Over the last decade, the use of these materials has become more prominent and thus sustainability challenges related to both synthesis and processing should be considered while maintaining their properties in order to diminish their negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the present paper proposes a novel strategy to develop advanced nanocomposites based on bio-based benzoxazine, reduced graphene oxide functionalized with tetraethylene pentamine and carbon fibers (SP-GT-CF-PBz) with strong interfacial interactions between the components by harnessing the reactive nature of the bio-based benzoxazine monomer and graphene oxide brought by the free amino functionalities present on their structure and the π–π interactions that may develop between benzoxazine, carbon fibers and graphene. The effects of GT loading over the curing behaviour of bio-based benzoxazine as well as its influence over the thermal and mechanical features of ternary nanocomposite systems containing carbon fibers have been systematically investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrates that the addition of GT nanoflakes has a catalytic effect on the polymerization process, as a decrease in the maximum temperature of the exothermic peak as well as curing enthalpy was noted. The SP-GT2-CF-PBz nanocomposite laminate exhibits an enhanced nanomechanical modulus (∼6 GPa) compared to SP-CF-PBz (∼1 GPa) and good thermal properties. The present article provides a new insight into the investigation of compatibility and interaction between the bio-based benzoxazine monomer, graphene oxide and carbon fibers.