Manufacturing and properties of biomimetic graphite nanoplatelets foils

Among the various architectures developed for composite materials, nanolaminated architecture is a promising candidate for the design of new materials for structural and functional applications. Nanolaminates mimic the natural occurring architecture of nacre and it is formed by highly oriented nanolaminae connected by a very low amount of matrix. Due to their architecture, inherently impermeable to fluid, such kind of materials is difficult to manufacture unless using layer-by-layer processes. Here, we describe the fabrication of films with nanolaminated architecture containing very high content (>80% w/w) of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) within an uncured epoxy matrix (prepregs), suitable for the conventional prepregs manufacturing technologies: film stacking and consolidation under temperature under pressure. Nanolaminated prepregs have been manufactured through the deposition of a paste of GNPs in epoxy enriched acetone solvent. Mainly, scanning electron microscopy has investigated the nanolaminated architecture of the prepregs. Stress-strain behavior of nanolaminated prepregs has been investigated as a function of their composition and consolidation pressure. Finally, a laminate made of six nanolaminated prepregs (about 0.3 mm thick) has been manufactured by hot pressing revealing interesting mechanical properties: a tensile modulus of 30 GPa and a damping coefficient, tan delta, of 0.03. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2019. (c) 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers