Influence of Graphene Oxide Functionalization Strategy on the Dynamic Mechanical Response of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Since the twenty-first century began, environmental concerns related to energetic consumption and pollution have been gaining attention. In part, these could be associated with production and disregard synthetic materials. Using natural materials instead of synthetic aimed to become a trend, which has not happened. Natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) were showed to be capable of replacing synthetic fibers in polymer composites. However, some limitations such as damage from heat can be considered a major constraint for wider application of NLFs/polymer composites. A novel strategy that is suggested to improve this property is the graphene oxide (GO) functionalization of NLFs. This work investigates the thermal behavior of epoxy/NLF composites, with and without GO functionalization. Two different amounts of reinforcement, low (20 vol%) and high (40 vol%), were dynamic mechanically investigated up to 160 °C. Investigated parameters revealed notable changes attributed to GO-functionalization effect on the NLF regarding viscous stiffness and damping capacity of the composite.