Abstract
In this study, graphite-enriched vinyl ester resin (GVER) composites were prepared with 1, 3 and 5% of graphite micro-platelets (GMPs) to investigate thermo-mechanical and thermo-kinetic properties of composites. The thermal degradation behavior of GVER composites has been studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis under non-isothermal conditions in inert nitrogen atmosphere. Different iso-conversional methods such as Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose and Tang method were applied for this study. The apparent activation energy (Ea) calculated from Kissinger’s method was found to be increased from 117.2 (neat vinyl ester) to 147.3, 150.5 and 155.8 kJ mol−1 for composites containing 1, 3 and 5% GMPs, respectively. The elastic modulus values were found to be increased 83.8, 107 and 71% for composites containing 1, 3 and 5% GMPs, respectively. The glass transition temperature values were increased 23.8% for 1% GMPs and 21.1% for 3 and 5% GMPs.