Tensile and tearing fracture properties of graphene oxide papers intercalated with carbon nanotubes

The fracture behaviors of graphene oxide (GO) and GO/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid papers are studied in both quasi-static mode-I opening and mode-III tearing fracture. Large GO papers give rise to a higher energy release rate and tearing toughness than those made from small GO sheets: about 36% and 70% enhancements are shown for the large GO papers due to a more compact structure and better GO sheet alignment. Hybridization of GO papers with MWCNTs also improves these properties when up to 5 wt.% of MWCNTs is incorporated, attributed to the stronger GO interlayer bonds through π–π interactions with intercalated MWCNTs. Fracture surface examination indicates that cleavage failure prevails in mode-I fracture depending on the size of GO sheets: the unsorted and large GO papers fail mainly by brittle cleavage of GO sheets whereas small GO papers fail by combined brittle cleavage and minor pullout following debonding of GO bundles. In contrast, combination of cleavage and debonding failures is dominant in mode-III fracture of GO papers, regardless of GO size. The torn edges present typical characteristics of a saw-tooth wave with disordered oscillation where the large GO papers exhibit generally higher amplitude peaks than the small GO papers.