Preparation of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite and characterization of its mechanical and antibacterial properties

Abstract

Abstract In the present research, polyaniline is used as a conducting polymer and polyvinyl alcohol is also used as a biopolymer, because of its mechanical properties and suitable processability. Also, silver nanoparticles are considered as a reinforcing agent of thermal stability, mechanical and antibacterial properties to prepare polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite. The synthesis of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol composite and polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite is performed through addition of polyaniline and silver in polyvinyl alcohol solution. In order to review thermal, mechanical and antibacterial properties of synthesized composite and nanocomposites, components with different weight rates are used. The obtained results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests also indicate promotion of thermal stability of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite compared with pure polyvinyl alcohol in temperatures above 400°C. The results of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of polyaniline, polyvinyl alcohol and silver in the structure of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver triple nanocomposite film. The obtained results from a review of antibacterial properties showed that polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposites have antibacterial effects on two different types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results from a review of mechanical properties of nanocomposites showed that the greatest value of tensile strength (13.8 MPa) belonged to polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver (88%/9%/3% w/w) nanocomposites. Therefore, this is determined as an optimal triple nanocomposite. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) system was used to characterize the composition and structure of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite film.