Preparation and enhanced mechanical properties of non-covalently-functionalized graphene oxide/cellulose acetate nanocomposites

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Engineering, 2016-04, Vol.90, p.223-231
• Main Authors: Uddin, Md Elias, Layek, Rama Kanta, Kim, Hak Yong, Kim, Nam Hoon, Hui, David, Lee, Joong Hee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Nano-structures; A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); B. Mechanical properties; Cellulose acetate; Differential scanning calorimetry; Diffraction; E. Surface treatments; Graphene; Hydrogen bonding; Nanocomposites; Oxides; Tensile strength
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.12.008

Sulfonated poly (ether-ether-ketone) (SPEEK) was selected as a surface modifying agent to prepare non-covalently functionalized reduced graphene oxide (NFrGO) followed by the development of NFrGO/cellulose acetate (CA) nanocomposite (NFrGO-CANC) through solution mixing. The formation of the nanocomposite was governed via the hydrogen bonding interactions among the –SO3H group of NFrGO and –OH/-CO groups of CA. NFrGO-CANC was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The tensile strength of the NFrGO-CANC increased significantly with increasing NFrGO loading. The tensile strength and modulus of the NFrGO-CANC with 1.5 wt.% NFrGO were improved by ∼102 and 143%, respectively, compared to those of pure CA. The onset degradation temperature and oxygen gas barrier properties of the NFrGO-CANC also were enhanced with increasing NFrGO loading up to 1.5 wt.% compared to those of pure CA film.