Rheological investigations and swelling behavior of gum ghatti-cl-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel reinforced with graphene oxide

Abstract The primary aim of this study is to examine the rheological attributes of graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced gum ghatti-cl-poly(AA)/GO (GGAAGO) hydrogels, with the intent of improving their mechanical and thermal properties. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to assess the thermal stability of the synthesized hydrogels, revealing the interaction between GO, gum ghatti, and acrylic acid. This investigation centers on the swelling behavior and rheological assessments of the hydrogels. Various experiments were conducted on nanocomposite particle gels to scrutinize the impact of graphene oxide (GO) microparticle concentration (ranging from 0 to 5 mg) on network topology, swelling, and mechanical characteristics of the gels. The rheological analysis also indicates a reduction in viscosity. Furthermore, the rheological examination of hydrogels indicates that the storage modulus (G′) consistently surpasses the loss modulus (G″) within the linear viscoelastic zone across the entire frequency spectrum. This dominance of the storage modulus over the loss modulus suggests continuous covalent crosslinking, accounting for the solid-like and elastic nature (G′ > G″) of the hydrogels. All rheological parameters highlight commendable mechanical properties, rendering the composite hydrogel suitable for applications such as drug administration and various environmental uses.