The synergetic effect of chiral organoclay and surface modified-Al2O3 nanoparticles on thermal and physical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) based nanocomposite films

Abstract

In the present investigation, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/organoclay/surface modified Al₂O₃ nanocomposites (POANC)s of different compositions were prepared by solution intercalation method. The nanocomposite films were obtained by mixing a colloidal solution consisting of surface modified Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (1, 3 and 6 wt%) with a water solution of PVA and organoclay (10 wt%) via ultrasound-assisted technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV–vis spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the morphology and properties of the POANCs. TGA and UV–vis results indicated that the thermal stability was enhanced distinctly, without a sacrifice in optical clarity. The improvement in the thermal properties of the hybrid materials was due to strong hydrogen bonding between OH groups of PVA, free acid functionalized groups of organoclay and the oxygen atoms of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. TEM and FE-SEM results also showed that the organoclay and Al₂O₃ were dispersed homogeneously in PVA matrix.