Composites based on graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) with different mass ratios (8, 100 and 600) were synthesized through the hydrothermal method at 100 °C and used as reinforcement materials to commercial glass-ionomers cements (GIC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization confirmed the graphite oxidation and ZnO formation as a wurtzite phase. Infrared spectroscopy analyses showed bands of oxygen-containing groups on the GO surface, which reduced after thermal treatment and RGO formation. D and G bands were observed in all samples synthesized, which presented morphology similar to flowers with a crystallite size of 18 nm. The effect on the mechanical properties of GIC after reinforcement with 0.1 wt% of RGO and 3 wt% of the composites was evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It was verified slight improvements in the hardness of GIC.
Keywords:
Reduced graphene oxide; ZnO composites; glass-ionomer cement; mechanical properties; physicochemical characterization