Preparation of reduced graphene oxide-reinforced epoxy resin composites and their shape memory properties

Novel shape memory composites based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-reinforced epoxy resin (EP) composites were prepared by a solution mixing and solvothermal reduction method. The effect of rGO content on the mechanical and shape memory properties of the rGO/EP composites was investigated. Results showed that the GO uniformly dispersed in the EP matrix was reduced in-situ to rGO by the solvothermal reduction. The composite had the maximum tensile strength and modulus when the mass fraction of rGO was 0.2%. When the mass fraction of rGO was 0.6%, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the composite was 102℃, 45℃ higher than that of pure EP, and the corresponding composite has a good shape memory property with its deformation fully recovered.