Functionalized graphite nanoplatelets/epoxy resin nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity

• KH-560 molecules have been successfully grafted on the GNPs’ surface.
• Thermal conductivity of fGNPs/E-51 nanocomposite with 30 wt% fGNPs is 1.698 W/mK.
• Thermal stabilities of the nanocomposites are increased with the addition of fGNPs.

Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) are performed to fabricate GNPs/bisphenol-A epoxy resin (GNPs/E-51) nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity via casting method. And the “two-step” method of methanesulfonic acid/γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MSA/KH-560) is introduced to functionalize the surface of GNPs (fGNPs). The KH-560 molecules have been successfully grafted onto the surface of GNPs. The thermal conductivities of the fGNPs/E-51 nanocomposites are increased with the increasing addition of fGNPs, and the corresponding thermally conductive coefficient of the fGNPs/E-51 nanocomposites is improved to 1.698 W/mK with 30 wt% fGNPs, 8 times higher than that of original E-51 matrix. The flexural strength and impact strength of the fGNPs/E-51 nanocomposites are optimal with 0.5 wt% fGNPs. The thermal stabilities of the fGNPs/E-51 nanocomposites are also increased with the increasing addition of fGNPs. For a given GNPs loading, the surface functionalization of GNPs by MSA/KH-560 exhibits a positive effect on the thermal conductivities and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.