The application of graphene in composite materials

Graphene Oxide (GO) with its wrinkled structure and abundant functional groups is easily modified, making it easier to disperse into composite materials compared to graphene, while maintaining its sheet-like structure. Reduced graphene can impart many advantages of graphene to composite materials, enhancing their performance. Therefore, research on GO and graphene-based composites has garnered significant attention from academia and industry.

Internationally, there are over 1,000 companies involved in the application of Graphene Oxide (GO) and graphene, covering a wide range of industries including anti-corrosion coatings, thermal management materials, composite materials, energy storage, electronic displays, and healthcare.

In academia, a review titled “Towards industrialization of graphene oxide” jointly published by the University of Science and Technology of China and Changzhou Sixth Element Material Technology Co., Ltd. in Science China Materials, discusses the current industrial development of GO. It summarizes large-scale production methods and economically valuable applications, focusing on GO’s applications in thermal management, multifunctional polymer composites, corrosion resistance, lubricants, energy, environment, and biomedical fields. The review also addresses challenges and strategies for industrial and commercial deployment of GO.

In industry, products from Changzhou Sixth Element using GO and graphene have been applied across multiple sectors. Here are some examples of GO and graphene applications:

1. Graphene anti-corrosion coatings Sixth Element has rich experience in preparing graphene-based anti-corrosion coatings. Salt spray tests show that using graphene as an anti-corrosion filler in epoxy primers and coatings significantly enhances their resistance to neutral salt spray.
2. Graphene/polyurethane composites Incorporating graphene into polyurethane composites greatly improves their wear resistance. Studies indicate that adding 3% graphene increases the wear cycles from 218 to 851 compared to polyurethane without graphene. Additionally, graphene enhances the aging resistance of polyurethane composites. Tests on automotive sealing strips demonstrate that graphene additives significantly improve wear resistance.
3. Graphene/polymer composites Polymer composites prepared with nanoparticle fillers exhibit excellent performance and are widely used in automotive, aerospace, construction, and electronic applications. The dispersion state of nanoparticles in the composite and their interaction with the polymer matrix significantly affect performance. Most nanoparticles are incompatible with polymers, limiting their reinforcement in composites. GO, with its rich functional groups, exhibits high compatibility with many polymer materials and can be used as a reinforcing filler in various polymer composites, enhancing mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.