Radiation processing and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) nano‐composites, Part 1: Nano‐particulate filler tuned crosslinking behavior

Abstract

AbstractNano‐composites of poly vinyl alcohol containing different nano‐fillers namely multiple walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), silica nanoparticles, and silver nanoparticles were prepared by sonication‐assisted solution mixing and subjected to different doses of gamma radiation. The efficacy of radiation crosslinking was analyzed by sol–gel analysis, Charlesby‐Pinner parameter estimation and crosslinking density measurements. Crosslinking of nano‐composites was found to increase with radiation dose and markedly affected with the type of nano‐particulate filler in the matrix (po/qo in the range: 0.40–0.83). The results have been explained on the basis of Raman spectroscopy, hydrodynamic volume measurements, contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010