Cyanate ester resin/graphene nanocomposite: Curing dynamics and network formation

The curing dynamics and network formation of cyanate ester resin/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites were studied by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies. The incorporation of GO into the resin showed a strong catalytic effect on the cure of the resin, especially in the initial stages. Addition of 4 wt.% GO resulted in the decrease of curing temperature significantly about 97 °C. Activation energy of the nanocomposites also maintained at a low level till the end of the cure. The most effective catalytic behavior was observed with 1 wt.% GO. Both FT-IR and Raman spectra revealed that single bondOH group in GO reacted with cyanate group Osingle bondCtriple bond; length of mdashN in the resin to form single bondOsingle bond(Cdouble bond; length as m-dashNH)single bondOsingle bond bond in the early stages of the cure. These results could provide a low temperature curing route for cyanate ester resins with improved curing efficiency.