The present study explores the effect of chitosan (CS)-assembled graphene oxide (GO) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites. To this end, firstly, CS-assembled GO sheets were synthesized. Subsequently, the effect of adding various amounts of GO-CS nanohybrid and GO sheets on the rheological and mechanical performance of PCL-based nanocomposites was investigated. It was observed that GO-CS nanohybrid exhibited an interesting dual role based on the amount of addition: the motion-limiting role and the lubricating role. Additionally, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the PCL nanocomposite films containing GO-CS nanohybrid and GO sheets increased as compared to pure PCL, while its influence in terms of elongation at break was the opposite. CS assembly to conventional nanoparticles (e.g., GO) was found as an interesting approach for the simultaneous enhancement of mechanical performance and processability of polymer matrices for a vast range of applications, especially in packaging and tissue engineering.
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