Ternary composite films with simultaneously enhanced strength and ductility: Effects of sodium alginate-gelatin weight ratio and graphene oxide content

This study aimed to simultaneously enhance the strength and ductility of films by adding graphene oxide (GO) into the sodium alginate (SA)-gelatin film system to prepare SA-gelatin-GO ternary composite films. The effects of the SA/gelatin weight ratio and the GO content on the morphology, structural, mechanical, hydrophobic, water vapor barrier, hygroscopic, and optical properties of composite films were investigated. Results showed that tensile strength and elongation at break values of the composite film with 0.5% GO content were significantly improved from 37.00 to 48.01 MPa and 20.19% to 25.75%, respectively, compared with the SA-gelatin film without GO, suggesting GO with the content of 0.5% simultaneously enhance the strength and ductility of the SA-gelatin film, which was due to the interaction of hydrogen bonds and the good dispersibility of GO in the film matrix. The surface hydrophobicity of composite films increased first and then decreased with increasing GO content. In addition, the hygroscopicity of composite films reduced due to the GO addition, especially when the GO content was 0.25%. The SA-gelatin-GO ternary composite films provide a good select for food packaging materials, especially the materials that require high strength and fine ductility.