To enhance the thermal properties of epoxy composites, expanded graphite (EG) was oxyfluorinated and embedded into epoxy resin as a reinforcement. The maximum thermal conductivity was obtained for epoxy composites with oxyfluorinated EG, representing a 62% increase compared to that of neat epoxy. Additionally, the glass transition temperature (Tg) and integral procedural decomposition temperature of epoxy composites with oxyfluorinated EG show the increase of 6% (4.4 °C) and 106% (264 °C), respectively, which indicated the improvement in thermal stability. These results can be attributed to the interfacial interaction between epoxy and oxyfluorinated EG, which formed strong interfacial interactions between the epoxy resin and EG due to the presence of oxygen- and fluorine-containing functional groups in oxyfluorinated EG.

Oxyfluorination of expanded graphite: improving the thermal properties of epoxy composites through interfacial interaction
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Materials
        2.2 Preparation and oxyfluorination of EG
        2.3 Fabrication of epoxy composites with oxyfluorinated EG
        2.4 Analyses
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Surface chemical properties of oxyfluorinated EG
        3.2 Fracture surface of the oxyfluorinated EGepoxy composites
        3.3 Thermal conductivity
        3.4 Segmental behavior of oxyfluorinated EGepoxy composites observed by DSC
        3.5 Thermal stability of the oxyfluorinated EGepoxy composites
    4 Conclusions
    References

• Ye Ji Choi(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)
• Kyeong Min Lee(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)
• Da Hee Kang(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)
• Jeong‑In Han(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)
• Young‑Seak Lee(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)