Exploring the thermal transformations of glucosamine-functionalized graphene oxide aimed at controlled fabrication of polycrystalline ceramic-graphene composites

Graphene oxide is commonly used as a precursor to graphene in ceramic-matrix composites, as it can be thermally reduced to reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) at much lower temperatures than those required for sintering of the ceramic materials. In wet forming methods, dispersibility of graphene oxide in aqueous medium can be enhanced through surface modification. In this study, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis coupled to mass spectrometry (TG/DTA-MS) were applied to analyze the thermal transformations of glucosamine-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) compared to non-functionalized GO, both of which are key components in the fabrication of ceramic-graphene composites. Measurements were conducted under two different atmospheres: air and argon, to assess the influence of oxidative and inert environments on thermal stability and decomposition processes. Mass spectrometry (MS) enabled the identification of gaseous by-products released during decomposition. The combined TG/DTA-MS technique provided valuable insights into the thermal stability, volatile emissions, and potential environmental impact of the analyzed samples. The paper also describes the advances in thermal analysis, showing the wide range of programming possibilities and sample loading. This integrated approach is essential for optimizing the sintering process of composite materials, exemplified by ZrO₂-graphene composites. Additionally, the paper highlights several applications of TG-MS in ceramics manufacturing, including additive manufacturing and colloidal processing. The different possibilities of measurement data processing are also presented.