Noncovalent functionalization of reduced graphene oxide with pluronic F127 and its nanocomposites with gum arabic

Nanocomposites of pluronic F127 modified reduced graphene oxide (PF127-rGO) with polyethylene glycol plasticize gum arabic (PGA) was prepared by evaporating an aqueous solution mixture of PF127rGO and PGA. PF127-rGO was synthesized by the in-situ reduction of graphene oxide using hydrazine in presence of pluronic F127 and characterized by the Uv Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy. The Uv Vis and Raman spectroscopy results indicate that pluronic F127 functionalization does not hamper the structure of rGO, and TEM image indicates, the pluronic F127 anchored rGO sheets remain exfoliated in diluted aqueous solution of PF127rGO. WAXS, FTIR and TGA studies confirms the functionalization of rGO with pluronic F127. PF127-rGO 2.5, PF127-rGO 5 and PF127-rGO 7.5 nanocomposites were fabricated, where the numbers represent the weight percentage of PF127-rGO with respect to PGA. The composite films were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FTIR, WAXS and mechanical property study. FESEM and WAXS studies show good dispersion of PF127-rGO sheets in the PGA matrix. The FTIR results indicate a significant interaction between functional groups of PF127-rGO and functional groups of PGA. PF127-rGO 7.5 shows a 124% increase of stress at break and 185% increase of Young's modulus compared to pure PGA. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.