LAUSR

Abstract Phenol formaldehyde/ZnO-decorated graphene oxide (PF/ZnO-RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by solution mixing method. The ZnO-RGO nanofillers were prepared by decorating ZnO particles on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) and it is interesting that the reduction of GO to RGO and conversion of ZnO to nano ZnO occur simultaneously. The ZnO-RGO nanofiller can improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PF resin by the action of synergetic effect between the metal oxide and graphene sheets. The structural properties and morphology of the nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) respectively. The effect of ZnO-RGO on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were studied by tensile and Izod impact tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were used to study the fracture mechanism of the nanocomposites. The thermal properties of the nanocomposites were studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the activation energy of decomposition was evaluated by Coats Redfern and Broido's method.