Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Graphene Nanoplatelets-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites: Comparison of Different Dispersal Mechanisms

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper is of moderate scientific interest and the worked on which it is based is valuable. The section "Introduction" is exhaustive and well written, Section 2 needs just a few modifications, while a strong revision is needed for Section 3. In particular, the the description of the main aspects of the experimental campaign and of the subsequent statistical analysis lacks; there are a lot of Figure but a few comments, so that Section 3 results hardly readable.

It is my opinion that the title is misleading and should be changed, since the submitted manuscript mainly tackles the problem of defining an efficient method of dispersal to prepare epoxy-based nanocomposites, while no contents of significant originality are presented about dispersion mechanisms.

Main remarks:

1) Section  3.1 and 3.2. The experimental campaign is not described. No information are given about the tensile and flexural tests, about the geometry and the number of specimens, the testing set-ups and so on. It is not mentioned in the paper how the flexural modulus is experimentally obtained. No information are given about statistical analyses of the experimental outcomes.

2) It is not expleined how the Figures 16 and 17 have been obtained.

Minor Remarks:

1) Pag. 4, line 136-139: "The bulk density....and graphite (Figure 4)". The addition of images of the morphology of carbon black, CNT-s and graphite  would be desirable. Some comments to Figure 4 should be added.

2) Pag. 5, line 173: "in several minutes". Is it possible to give a more precise indication?

3) Figure 6b and Figure 7: Resolution is poor.

4) Pag. 5, line 194: "Some seem...are more appropriate physically". Please, rephrase this sentence to better explaining this point.

5) Equation (2): please, add some comments after equation (2).

6) The flow chart of Figure 5 should be modified with the aim of increasing its "readability".

7) Figure 9 is certainly clear, but a few comments could be added in the text at the end of Section 2.2.3.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

-Any RAMAN spectra of the Graphene?

-How you discussed about  the role of graphene agglomeration in decrease in mechanical properties in 1%?

-How you manage the agglomeration of the Graphene in long ultrasonication time?

-Graphene can easily change the thermal behaviour including DSC results. any data?

https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.4892089?journalCode=jap

-Changes in mode of fraction can be exhibited by focus on fracture surface SEM.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Some typos and misprints are still present in the paper. Please, make a careful re-reading.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript may be published in Sustainability