Preparation of hybrid graphene oxide/nano‐silica nanofillers and their application in poly(vinyl alcohol) composites

Abstract

We described the preparation of the hybrid graphene oxide (GO)/nano‐silica (SiO2) nanofillers through the simple solution mixing method and their potential application in preparing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites. SiO2 nanoparticles were absorbed on the surface of GO sheets, which resulted in the exfoliation and dispersion of GO on one hand. On the other hand, well‐dispersed SiO2 particles were also achieved. The hybrid GO@SiO2 nanofillers modified PVA composite was prepared by dissolving the hybrid nanofillers into water followed by mixing with PVA. It was found that the hybrid GO@SiO2 nanofillers exhibited much better dispersion in PVA matrix compared with neat SiO2 and neat GO nanofillers. The hybrid GO@SiO2 nanofillers exhibited good interaction with PVA matrix, which resulted in the apparent change of the glass transition of PVA matrix. With the addition of only 1 wt% GO@SiO2 nanofillers, the PVA/GO@SiO2 composite exhibited apparently enhanced tensile strength and fracture energy, which demonstrated the simultaneous strengthening and toughening effects of the hybrid GO@SiO2 nanofillers. This work provided an alternative method to strengthen and toughen polymers simultaneously at very low content of hybrid nanofillers. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E89–E97, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers