Thermal and electrical properties of phenol formaldehyde foams reinforcing with reduced graphene oxide

In this study, phenol formaldehyde/reduced graphene oxide (PF/RGO) foam nanocomposites were prepared. Here, RGO was obtained by the reduction of graphene oxide using an eco-friendly reducing agent potato starch. The scanning electron microscopic images of RGO reinforced foams exhibited smaller cells with thick cell walls as compared to neat PF foam that confirms the incorporation of filler material. The thermal and dielectric properties of the PF/RGO foams were improved with increasing the wt% of RGO. The incorporation of RGO improved the thermal conductivity of the PF matrix (11.3% for 0.15 wt% of RGO) to a small extent. The prepared foams are efficient thermal insulation materials as well as efficient electrical conductors.