Influence of reduced graphene oxide on mechanical behaviors of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/reduced graphene oxide (NaCMC/rGO) nanocomposite films were prepared by a simple solution mixing-evaporation method. The NaCMC/rGO nanocomposite films were characterized and compared with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/graphene oxide (NaCMC/GO) nanocomposite films. The stability of the rGO dispersion, and the structural and mechanical properties of the composite films were investigated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and using a universal testing machine (UTM). The results revealed that CMC and rGO were able to form a homogenous mixture. Compared with pure CMC, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the CMC/rGO nanocomposite films were considerably enhanced (by 72.52% and 131.79%, respectively) upon incorporation of 2 wt% rGO.