Enhanced stability and mechanical strength of sodium alginate composite films

This work aims to study how three kinds of nanofillers: graphene oxide (GO), ammonia functionalized graphene oxide (AGO), and triethoxylpropylaminosilane functionalized silica, can affect stability and mechanical strength of sodium alginate (SA) composite films. The filler/sodium alginate (SA) solutions were first studied by rheology to reveal effects of various fillers on zero shear viscosity η0. SA composite films were then prepared by a solution mixing-evaporation method. The structure, morphology and properties of SA composite films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), contact angle and mechanical testing. Compared to GO and silica, the presence of AGO significantly improved the interaction between AGO and SA, which led to the increase in stability and mechanical strength of the resulting SA composite films. The tensile strength and elongation at break of AGO/SA composite film at 3 wt% AGO loading were increased by 114.9% and 194.4%, respectively, in contrast to pure SA film. Furthermore, the stability of AGO/SA composite films at high temperatures and in a wet environment were better than that of silica/SA and GO/SA composite films.