Surface decoration of graphene oxide with tragacanth gum as a promising way to improve the mechanical properties of chitosan nanocomposite; experimental, micromechanical, and simulation study

Abstract

The interfacial interaction of graphene oxide (GO) with the host polymer is of particular importance in the development of new nanocomposites with ultimate performance. In this perspective, the influence of functionalized GO with the tragacanth gum (TG) polysaccharide on the mechanical characteristic of chitosan (CS) biopolymer was investigated. Spectroscopic and microscopic analysis thoroughly confirmed the TG functionalization process of GO (TG-GO). The understanding of the reinforcement behavior of TG-GO in the host polymer (CS) was constructed by combination of tensile, micro-mechanical/structural testing, as well as molecular dynamic simulation of interfacial interaction. Our finding represented that this functionalization put a remarkable impact on the mechanical properties of CS, which is evident on the microstructure of the fracture surface. The Halpin-Tsai model verified the observed increasing trend in mechanical performance. Simulation results revealed that TG-GO has better interfacial interaction with CS, which is highly in good agreement with the boosted mechanical performance.