Surface Modification of Graphene for Use as a Structural Fortifier in Water-Borne Epoxy Coatings

Graphene, the typical two-dimensional sp2 hybridized carbon allotrope, is widely used as a filler for improving the mechanical performance of polymers. However, its superhydrophobic surface makes it a big challenge to obtain stable graphene dispersions, especially in water-borne systems. On the contrary, graphene oxide (GO) shows excellent dispersibility in water, but strong oxidants and acids destroy its structure and degrade its mechanical...