Effect of graphene oxide on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films

Abstract

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by the traditional Hummers method and the composite film of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and GO was prepared using solution casting method. The structure and properties of GO and PVA/GO film were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile and oxygen barrier tests in detail. FTIR results proved that the natural graphite had been oxidized. The layer structure of natural graphite was exfoliated during the process of oxidation and ultrasonication. For the PVA/GO composite film, both tensile strength and Young’s modulus were improved with the increase of GO wt%. The Young’s modulus of the composite film with 4 wt% GO obviously increased by 900% over that of the neat PVA film. In addition, a remarkable improvement in the barrier properties of the PVA/GO composite film was also achieved. The oxygen transmission rate and the oxygen permeability coefficient of the composite film were reduced by 59 and 69% respectively than those of the neat PVA film.