Hydrophobic Graphene Oxide as a Promising Barrier of Water Vapor for Regenerated Cellulose Nanocomposite Films.

ABSTRACT: Regenerated cellulose (RC) films exhibit poor water barrier performance, which seriously restricts its applications. To address this issue, an impermeable and hydrophobic graphene oxide modified by chemically grafting octadecylamine (GO-ODA) was utilized to enhance the water vapor barrier performance of RC nanocomposite films. Compared to the neat RC film, more than 20% decrease in the coefficient of water vapor permeability (P H2O) was achieved by loading only 2.0 wt % GO-ODA. The promising hydrophobicity of GO-ODA effectively retarded the formation of hydrogen bonding at the relatively weakened interface between GO and RC, compensating for the diffusion of water vapor molecules at the interface; on the other hand, the fully exfoliated GO-ODA nanosheets were inclined to align with the surface of the as-prepared RC nanocomposite films during hot-pressure drying, creating a much more tortuous pathway for diffusion of water molecules. The new insights could be valuable for widening application of cellulose such as packaging.

SUBMITTER: Xu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6648826 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature