Facile fabrication of rGO-reinforced epoxy nanocomposite for advanced properties in sustainable leather finishing

Amid rising concerns over environmental sustainability and health hazards associated with conventional finished leather and its usage, the industry is increasingly adopting advanced innovative solutions. In this context, nanocomposites incorporating two-dimensional nanomaterials have emerged as vital finishing agents, offering significantly improved inherent performance for finished leather. This study presented the development and application of an epoxy resin-based reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite that has increased non-toxicity, high stability, mechanical properties, and UV resistance, making it highly viable as a finishing material for leather. The nanocomposites were prepared through in-situ polymerization, facilitating robust covalent/non-covalent interactions (π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding) between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and epoxy resin. These nanocomposites form a crystallinity, morphological integrity, compatibility, UV stability, and thermal resistance due to the presence of rGO. The surface of the nanocomposite exhibits abundant hydrophobic functionalities, greatly enhancing weatherability, while attaining optimal mechanical properties at a 3 % concentration of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Leather functionalized with these nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved breathability and thermal resistance than that shown by the conventional. Furthermore, the results revealed significant enhancements in properties such as fastness, along with notable improvements in tensile strength and water vapor permeability WVP, which increased by 10.71 % and 19.75 %, respectively, further supporting the potential of this nanocomposite as an eco-friendly and effective alternative compared to conventional. Therefore, the developed nanocomposite, with its improved finishing properties, could be proposed as a viable replacement for conventional leather finishing agents in the industry.