Preparation and the swelling properties of sodium alginate graft poly (acrylic acid‐co‐2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid)/graphene oxide hydrogel composite

Sodium alginate graft poly (acrylic acid‐co‐2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid)/graphene oxide (SA‐g‐P(AA‐co‐AMPS)/GO) hydrogel composite is prepared. The composite is characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), high‐resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The swelling properties of the composite are investigated. GO acts as part of the cross‐linking points, which improves the swelling property of the composite. Maximal amount of absorption capacity in water and 0.9% NaCl is 862.3 and 164.7 g/g, respectively, with a GO content of 5 wt% of total mass of monomers. However, the absorption of water and 0.9% NaCl is only 390.3 and 52.5 g/g, respectively, without the incorporation of GO. Water retention properties of the composite are also tested.