LAUSR

In the present study SU8 nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating graphene oxide (GO), and its effect on the UV curing kinetics, morphology, electrical, hardness and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were investigated at different loading levels of GO (0.1 − 3 wt%). Studying the reaction kinetics of the UV curing process by means of real-time infrared spectroscopy showed that the polymerization rate and the final conversion of epoxy groups was related to the loading level of GO in the nanocomposites. An autocatalytic kinetics model of the curing reaction confirmed the effect of GO nanoparticles on the curing rate constant (k), the order of the initiation reaction (m) and the ultimate conversion of the UV-cured nanocomposites. Appropriate experimental observations indicated that dispersion of GO within the resin plays a critical role on the cure kinetics and final conversion. The results of the kinetics modeling and morphological observations showed that the curing rate constant of the nanocomposites is highly dependent on the GO content and its dispersion state, indicating that GO prevents epoxy resin crosslinking by photoinitator deactivation. Moreover, oxygen functionalities, such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, on the surface of GO facilitate interfacial interactions between epoxy groups from the matrix and GO. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrated that the UV-induced photo-cured GO filled resins are conductive SU8 nanocomposites. It was observed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites is enhanced due to the dispersion of GO in the matrix. Moreover, the microhardness analysis showed that addition of GO to neat SU8 increases the mechanical hardness of the nanocomposite. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry