Fabrication of poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites having different contents of modified SiO2 by vitamin B1 as biosafe and novel coupling agent to improve mechanical and thermal properties

Abstract

In this study, at first, owing to the excessive surface energy and inclination for aggregation, surface treatment of silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles (NP)s was performed by vitamin B₁ (VB₁) as a biodegradable and biocompatible coupling agent. The divergent extent of modified SiO₂ (SiO₂‐VB₁) was incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix and PVA/SiO₂‐VB₁ nanocomposites (NC)s were prepared. TGA analysis showed that the insertion of SiO₂‐VB₁ into the PVA improved its thermal resistance. Microscopic observations showed that SiO₂‐VB₁ was in average size about 24 nm and was homogeneously dispersed in the PVA matrix. As reported by UV‐Vis spectra, the absorption was raised by increasing the percentage of SiO₂ NPs_. Water contact angle analysis indicated that the obtained NCs showed more hydrophilicity property than the neat PVA. Also, a mechanical tensile test of the NCs showed more flexibility than that of the pure PVA.