Preparation and investigation of graphene nanoplatelets effect on the structural, thermal, and morphological properties of short flax fibres nanocomposites

Abstract

In this paper, short flax fibres-graphene nanoplatelets (SFF-GNPs) nanocomposites were prepared by the solution mixing process. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was added at different mass loading (1, 5, 25, 50, and 100 wt.%) with short flax fibres (SFF). Nanofillers like graphene improve interfacial adhesion, strengthening composites and enhancing their durability. Therefore, understanding interfacial phenomena is key to developing high-performance hybrid nanocomposites. Various spectroscopic, thermal and morphological analysis techniques were employed to investigate the effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the short flax fibres-graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites properties. FTIR confirmed the absence of any chemical interactions between graphene nanoplatelets and short flax fibres, indicating the physical attachment of graphene nanoplatelets to the fibre surface by mechanical interlocking. According to XRD results, graphene nanoplatelets were identified on the surface of flax fibres, forming a staked layer. However, beyond 25 wt.%, disordered stacked layers were observed. In addition, SEM observations indicated that graphene nanoplatelets were tightly attached to the fibre surface, forming laminated layers, resulting in improved thermal stability of the short flax fibres as a function of graphene nanoplatelets content due to the barrier effect, which delayed fibre degradation.