The possibility of using graphene oxide as a modifying additive for polymer fiber-reinforced composites based on epoxy resin and basalt roving has been studied. The content of graphene oxide in the system has been experimentally selected, which has the best effect on the physico-mechanical properties of the obtained polymer composite material. The efficiency of the modification of the graphene oxide surface with APTES finishing additives and aminoacetic acid, which provides chemical interaction at the polymer matrix–filler interface, has been considered. The influence of graphene oxide and functionalizing additives on the polymer curing process was investigated using the thermometric method and differential scanning calorimetry.

The possibility of using tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(4-methylphenyl) phosphate as effective plasticizers for epoxy polymers has been studied. As a result of the research the optimum content of plasticizers (40 parts by mass) has been determined, which has the best effect on the strength and fire safety properties of epoxy composites. Modification of the epoxy polymer with presented plasticizers influences carbonization process increasing char yield and reducing the amount of volatile thermolysis products released into the gas phase, thus improving fire safety parameters of epoxy composites, reducing mass loss on ignition in air from 78 to 2–9% and increasing limiting oxygen index (LOI) values from 19 to 25–31% by volume, giving good fire protective properties to epoxy composites (UL-94 rating—V-0/V-1). The thermo-protective properties and the structure of the char formed by polymer combustion have been studied and the correlation between the thermo-protective properties of the char and the combustibility of the composite has been determined. Furthermore, the behaviour of the modified composite during high rate pyrolysis has been analyzed.

This article describes the preparation of aluminum nitride (AlN) functionalized with amino groups by chemically modifying the surface of AlN with aminoacetic acid and their dispersion in the epoxy composition. As a result of the studies, it was found that the functionalization of AlN particles with aminoacetic acid ensured their better chemical compatibility with the epoxy composition, which facilitated the dispersibility of AlN particles; it was also found that the functionalization of the nanofiller has a significant effect on the structure, curing kinetics, physicochemical and mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites. The optimal concentration of the functionalizing agent (aminoacetic acid) has been determined, which is necessary for the chemical binding of the functional groups of aminoacetic acid, the epoxy oligomer and AlN, which best affects the dispersion and the size distribution of AlN particles, and also ensures maximum strength characteristics of epoxy composites containing AlN treated with aminoacetic acid: bending stress and bending modulus increase by 35% and 80%, respectively, while tensile strength and tensile elastic modulus increase by 74% and 36%, respectively. Furthermore, the impact strength shows a remarkable boost of 133% compared to plasticized epoxy composite without AlN.

The possibility of using Taunit carbon nanotubes as modifying additives to fiber-reinforced polymer composites based on an epoxy resin and basalt roving was examined. The optimum content of nanotubes in the epoxy compound, at which carbon nanotubes reinforce the epoxy composite, was chosen. The possibility of modifying the nanotube surface with a dressing additive, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, for enhancing the adhesion of the nanotubes to the epoxy resin was considered, the modification efficiency was determined, and the effect of UP-616 active diluent on the system was examined. The effect of nanotubes and active diluent on the polymer curing was studied by the thermometric method and differential scanning calorimetry.

In this study, we used multilayer graphene oxide (GO) obtained by anodic oxidation of graphite powder in 83% sulfuric acid. The modification of GO was carried out by its interaction with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) according to the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution between the amino group of HMDA (HMDA) and the epoxy groups of GO, accompanied by partial reduction of multilayer GO and an increase in the deformation of the carbon layers. The structure and properties of modified HMDA-GO were characterized using research methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The conducted studies show the effectiveness of using HMDA-OG for modifying epoxy composites. Functionalizing treatment of GO particles helps reduce the free surface energy at the polymer–nanofiller interface and increase adhesion, which leads to the improvement in physical and mechanical characteristics of the composite material. The results demonstrate an increase in the strength and elastic modulus in bending by 48% and 102%, respectively, an increase in the impact strength by 122%, and an increase in the strength and elastic modulus in tension by 82% and 47%, respectively, as compared to the pristine epoxy composite which did not contain GO-HMDA. It has been found that the addition of GO-HMDA into the epoxy composition initiates the polymerization process due to the participation of reactive amino groups in the polymerization reaction, and also provides an increase in the thermal stability of epoxy nanocomposites.

The possibility of using microwave radiation at various stages of obtaining an unsaturated polyester composite modified with carbon nanotubes was studied. The optimal content of MWCNTs in the system was experimentally selected, having the best effect on the strength of the composite. The effect of the microwave field on the properties of a polyester composite during the microwave treatment of an oligomer, a polymerized composite, and MWCNTs before their addition into the oligomer was studied. The processes of the structure formation, the structure of the composite, the effect of the microwave radiation on MWCNTs, and the thermal stability of the resulting composites were considered.