On the mechanical behavior of basalt fiber/epoxy composites filled with silanized graphene oxide nanoplatelets

Effects of GONP modification and S-GONPs loading on the mechanical properties of UBF/epoxy composite were investigated. The introduction of the silane organic chains on the surface of GONPs was evaluated by FTIR, STA, and Raman spectroscopy. Out of the specimens, the highest values in mechanical strengths were obtained at 0.4 wt% S-GONPs. The tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths of this specimen were 16%, 47%, 51% greater, respectively, than that of UBF/epoxy composite. Improvements in the mechanical moduli were also obtained. It was also found that silane modification of GONPs had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the specimens. Microscopic studies showed a better interfacial bonding between UBF and matrix in nanofiller-filled specimens. The experimental results for compressive strength and modulus were compared with an Euler-Bernoulli beam-based model. The model predictions were in very good agreement with experimental results. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2472-E2482, 2018. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers