The Influence of Graphene Oxide and Cristobalite Phase of Silica Precipitate on Chitosan – Based Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites are commonly used as fillers with size at the nanoscale and have low loading, have the potential to match or significantly improve performance to supply conventional composites. Graphene oxide (GO), an oxidative exfoliating product of natural graphite, has attracted much attention due to its excellent strengthening effect on polymers. Young modifications of the GO sheet and the strong interaction interface between GO and the matrix polymer. Therefore, graphene oxide is expected to offer a promising nanoscale for the next generation of nanocomposite materials. Besides that, silica precipitate a critical materials used in many applications worlwide. Silica Precipitates have become key fillers in nanocomposites due to their properties which can improve mechanical properties. In this study, Chitosan-based Nanocomposite Films have been made by casting methods. The effect of graphene oxide and silica precipitates on the chitosan film and their properties were investigated. Graphene oxide used in this study was synthesized with chemicals from pure graphite using the Hummer Method. Graphene oxide produced from the hummer method was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope. Silica precipitates in this study uses cristobalite phase of silica. The measurement results of the mechanical properties of nanocomposite films show that adding christobalite phase of silica precipitate content in composites increases the tensile strengh of 21.3 Mpa and higher than addition of GO in the chitosan films. Meanwile, addition of GO in chitosan film increases the young modulus up to 2.73 Gpa.