Thermal and mechanical properties of nano-titanium dioxide-doped polyvinyl alcohol

Abstract

Organic polymers exhibit poor thermal stability and inferior mechanical properties. Significant improvement in mechanical and thermal properties of polymers can be achieved by homogeneous distribution of inorganic materials preferably in nano size. In this study, these properties of polyvinyl alcohol were found to improve by addition of nano-titanium dioxide. Microwave irradiation method was used to prepare nano-titanium dioxide and doped in polyvinyl alcohol matrix to formulate the composite film. The spectral and morphological characterizations of the composites were carried out by the conventional techniques. Various mechanical properties were determined by Tinus Oisen universal testing machine. Thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used for studying the thermal properties of the composites. Shift in decomposition temperature of polyvinyl alcohol indicated the enhanced thermal stability of polyvinyl alcohol. The composite also exhibited significant improvement in all the mechanical properties.