Preparation of hybrid graphene oxide/nano‐silica nanofillers and their application in poly(vinyl alcohol) composites

We described the preparation of the hybrid graphene oxide (GO)/nano‐silica (SiO₂) nanofillers through the simple solution mixing method and their potential application in preparing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites. SiO₂ nanoparticles were absorbed on the surface of GO sheets, which resulted in the exfoliation and dispersion of GO on one hand. On the other hand, well‐dispersed SiO₂ particles were also achieved. The hybrid GO@SiO₂ nanofillers modified PVA composite was prepared by dissolving the hybrid nanofillers into water followed by mixing with PVA. It was found that the hybrid GO@SiO₂ nanofillers exhibited much better dispersion in PVA matrix compared with neat SiO₂ and neat GO nanofillers. The hybrid GO@SiO₂ nanofillers exhibited good interaction with PVA matrix, which resulted in the apparent change of the glass transition of PVA matrix. With the addition of only 1 wt% GO@SiO₂ nanofillers, the PVA/GO@SiO₂ composite exhibited apparently enhanced tensile strength and fracture energy, which demonstrated the simultaneous strengthening and toughening effects of the hybrid GO@SiO₂ nanofillers. This work provided an alternative method to strengthen and toughen polymers simultaneously at very low content of hybrid nanofillers. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E89–E97, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers