Figure 2.
SEM micrographs of cryo-fractured composites for (a) the uncompatibilized blend (80/20/0/0) and (b) in the presence of compatibilizer (77/20/3/0), with BioC/matrix interactions circled. Agglomerated GnPs were identified in both (c) 1 wt.% composites (77/19/3/1) and (d) 3 wt.% composites (77/17/3/3). Excessive GnP agglomeration was identified in 5 wt.% composites at 3,000x magnification in (e), and a low 1,000x magnification cross-section of the fracture surface for 3 wt.% GnP loading is visible in (f).