Mechanical properties of Fe3O4/GO/chitosan composites

A previously unreported iron oxide/graphene oxide/chitosan (Fe3O4/GO/CS) composite was prepared by a simple solution mixing-evaporation method. The structure, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, and mechanical testing. The results obtained from these analyses revealed that chitosan, iron oxide and graphene oxide were able to form a homogeneous mixture. A great synergistic effect of iron oxide platelets and graphene oxide (GO) on reinforcing chitosan matrix has been observed. With incorporation of 0.5 wt.% Fe3O4 and 1 wt.% GO, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composite have significantly improved by about 28% and 74%, respectively, compared with chitosan. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.