Preparation and properties of graphene oxide–carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites

Graphene oxide–carbon fiber/phenolic resin, chemically-reduced graphene oxide–carbon fiber/phenolic resin, and thermally-reduced graphene oxide–carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites were prepared by blending a graphene oxide suspension in an ethanol solution of phenolic resin with carbon fibers, followed by vacuum drying and hot pressing. The effects of the type of graphene oxide on structure, compressive performance and friction properties of the composites were investigated. Results showed that the compressive properties of the composites were greatly improved with a 0.1 mass graphene oxide % loading compared with the pure carbon fiber/phenolic resin composite. The compressive strength and modulus of the thermally-reduced graphene oxide/phenolic resin/carbon fiber composites were increased by 178.9%, 129.5%, respectively, and the highest energy storage modulus of the chemically-reduced graphene oxide/phenolic resin/carbon fiber composite was increased by 75.2% compared with the pure carbon fiber/phenolic resin composite. The glass transition temperatures of all the composites containing graphene oxide decreased.