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- Title
Microchannel insulating foams comprising a multifunctional epoxy/graphene‐nanoplatelet nanocomposite.
- Authors
Schmid, Eric D.; Veluswamy, N. Krishnan P.; Klose, Andrew M.; Fesmire, James E.; Salem, David R.
- Abstract
Graphene nanomaterials have demonstrated simultaneous enhancement of both the thermal and mechanical properties of many base polymer systems, but for application as a reinforcement in multifunctional thermally insulating polymer foam the graphene additive must not significantly increase the macroscopic thermal conductivity. In an effort to study and decouple these mechanical and thermal properties, low loadings of reduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets have been added into epoxy formulations to comprise the matrix structure of hollow microchannel nanocomposite foams. Substantial improvements of 226% were achieved in the microchannel foam specific flexural modulus at only 0.15% graphene nanoplatelet loading without compromising the foam flexural strength and while also maintaining the low thermal conductivity of the baseline epoxy foam material. These results support the use of these nanocomposite foams as mechanically reinforced thermal insulation, with the addition of the graphene nanoplatelets potentially providing additional multifunctional improvements to the foam such as reduced UV‐radiation transmittance, improved electrical surface conductivity for diminished static charge buildup, and/or lowering of the coefficient of thermal expansion for enhanced structural stability in extreme environments. This particular combination of multifunctional properties makes these materials well suited as high‐performance structural thermal insulation materials in support of next generation space system applications.
- Subjects
CARBON foams; FLEXURAL modulus; NANOCOMPOSITE materials; FOAM; MECHANICAL properties of condensed matter; THERMAL insulation; THERMAL conductivity
- Publication
Polymer Engineering & Science, 2022, Vol 62, Issue 5, p1677
- ISSN
0032-3888
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/pen.25955