Mechanical, Thermal, and Flame-Retardant Performance of Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabric/Epoxy Nanocomposites Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets

ABSTRACT In this study, polyester fabric (PETF)/epoxy hybrid composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were proposed and investigated for enhanced performance. The mechanical performance of the GNP-reinforced multiscale composites was significantly improved compared to that of the PETF/epoxy composite. The synergistic effect of high aspect ratio GNPs and their homogeneous load transfer throughout the composite network largely contributes to the enhanced tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear strength, and toughness of these composites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the PETF/epoxy/GNPs hybrid composites exhibit improved thermal stability, as indicated by the onset and peak temperatures of maximum degradation, compared with the PETF/epoxy composite. Interfacial interactions between epoxy chains and the GNP-reinforced networks were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The UL-94 horizontal burning test showed that the flame-retardant characteristics of the hybrid composites are greatly improved, with reduced ignition propensity and lower burning rates, indicating their suitability for fire safety applications. Furthermore, the incorporation of GNPs as reinforcement in the PETF/epoxy system enhances the structural integrity, as fiber pull-out was not observed in the fractographic studies. Overall, these GNP-based PETF/epoxy composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and fire-resistant properties are promising candidates for aerospace structures, automotive body panels, and flame-retardant structural components. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT