It is the first time to report the effects of graphene oxide (GO) coating on the mechanical properties of short glass fiber (SGF) reinforced polymer composites. GO-coated SGF reinforced polyethersulphone (PES) composites are manufactured using extrusion compounding and injection molding techniques. The micro-structures and morphologies of GO and GO-coated SGFs are investigated using scanning electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscope and Fourier transform infrared techniques. Then, the tensile and flexural properties of the GO-coated SGF/PES composites are systematically studied taking into account the effect of GO coating content. It is observed that both the tensile and flexural strengths are effectively enhanced by the GO coating on the SGF surfaces. This observation is mainly attributed to the enhanced interfacial adhesion between SGFs and PES due to the GO coating. Moreover, the tensile and flexural moduli are also improved by the addition of GO due to the fact that GO has a much higher modulus than the PES matrix. 

Composites Part B: Engineering

Available online 6 June 2016