Prepare Polyvinyl Alcohol Research Articles

Control nucleation for strong and tough crystalline hydrogels with high water content

Hydrogels, provided that they integrate strength and toughness at desired high content of water, promise in load-bearing tissues such as articular cartilage, ligaments, tendons. Many developed strategies impart hydrogels with some mechanical properties akin to natural tissues, but compromise water content. Herein, a strategy deprotonation-complexation-reprotonation is proposed to prepare polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels with water content as high as ~80% and favorable mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 7.4 MPa, elongation of around 1350%, and fracture toughness of 12.4 kJ m−2. The key to water holding yet improved mechanical properties lies in controllable nucleation for refinement of crystalline morphology. With nearly constant water content, mechanical properties of as-prepared hydrogels are successfully tailored by tuning crystal nuclei density via deprotonation degree and their distribution uniformity via complexation temperature. This work provides a nucleation concept to design robust hydrogels with desired water content, holding implications for practical application in tissue engineering.

Polyvinyl alcohol-encapsulated cerium oxide nanospheres composite nanofiber membrane for enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial applications☆

Cerium oxide (CeO2) has attracted much attention in recent years owing to its reversible switch ability in Ce3+/Ce4+ redox to produce improved antioxidation properties for biomedical applications. Here, we report to embed the CeO2 nanospheres into the organic polymer network using electrostatic spinning technology to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-encapsulated CeO2 nanospheres composite nanofibrous membranes (PVA-CeO2) for the first time, which is beneficial to improving the dispersion and biocompatibility of CeO2 nanosphere without altering the original antioxidant properties of CeO2. Detailed characterization of the as-prepared composite nanofibrous membranes reveals that CeO2 was successfully introduced into the PVA fibers with strong interactions, thus enhancing the thermal stability and fracture toughness of the nanofibers. As a result, PVA-CeO2 exhibits superior UV shielding performance, antioxidant performance and bacteriostatic performance. Meaningfully, PVA-CeO2 has strong absorbance in both UVA and UVB bands when the CeO2 concentration in the nanofiber membrane reaches 1.5 wt%, and shows an excellent scavenging effect on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals with a scavenging rate of 86.52%. Moreover, the Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method of agar diffusion test further confirms that PVA-CeO2 has antimicrobial ability against three types of representative strains, including Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and fungi (Candida albicans). Importantly, no obvious cytotoxicity is observed for PVA-CeO2 even though the amount of embedded CeO2 nanosphere reaches as high as 1.5 wt%. This study reveals new avenues for improving the future smart design of CeO2-based nanofiber membrane composite materials for biological antioxidants.

Synthesis of Composite Hydrogel Made of Woven Fabrics Stitched with PVA Yarn

In this study, a new method to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel-based woven fabric composite is presented. In this method, the woven fabric was first stitched with PVA yarn and then subjected to the borax solution for simultaneously dissolving and crosslinking PVA. The prepared PVA hydrogel-based woven fabric composite was chemically, mechanically, and thermally characterized. FTIR analysis was performed to confirm the crosslinking of PVA on the reinforced fabric surface. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to investigate the crystallinity of the composite. An optical microscope was used to investigate the surface morphology of the composites. Moreover, a DSC analysis was done to investigate the thermal characteristics of the composite. The mechanical and fluid absorbency characteristics of the composite were analyzed to investigate the effect of the concentration of PVA yarn on the tensile strength and water absorbency of composites. The results showed that the tensile strength and rigidity of the composite increased by increasing the PVA yarn content in the composite.

Gradient crosslinking optimization for the selective layer to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane: The enhanced filtration performance and potential rejection for EDCs

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been employed and crosslinked as the selective layer of NF membranes with enhanced hydrophilicity. However, the influences of different crosslinking methods and agents on the reaction mechanism and membrane performance still need to be comprehensively studied. In this study, NF membranes were prepared by coating crosslinking (CC-membrane) and gradient crosslinking (GC-membrane) methods. Compared with CC-membrane, the GC-membrane possessed a 65% higher flux with Na2SO4 rejection around 90%, under the optimal preparation conditions with PVA content of 0.10%, curing at 80 °C for 10 min. Crosslinking agents including 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (TMA), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with different spatial structure were used to optimize the GC-membrane. As confirmed by SEM, XPS, FTIR and contact angle tests, the 6FDA-GC membrane showed a thinner, smoother and more hydrophilic selective layer, and kept an excellent balance between the water flux (88.6 L/m2h) and Na2SO4 rejection (88.7%). This is because the 6FDA with a large molecule and flexible spatial structure could form a more integrated crosslinking structure compared to PMDA. Meanwhile, the 6FDA-GC membrane showed rejections of over 80% towards the endocrine-disrupting compound 17α-Ethinylestradiol and exhibited stable antifouling ability and durability. Overall, this work studied systematically the influences of various crosslinking agents on the GC-membrane, and verified the potential of hydrophilic PVA membranes for nanofiltration.

PVA/GO-ZnO hybrid nanocomposites: Synthesis, Analysis and Applications

Objective: To prepare Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites with novel GO-ZnO hybrid Nano filler and test its efficacy and applications. Methods: GO-ZnO hybrid nanocomposite filler was synthesized by modified hummer’s method. Polymer nanocomposite films were prepared by solution casting method. Synthesis of GO-ZnO hybrid procedure is explained in detail. ZnO with average size of 26.74 nm were equally anchored on the GO surface. The properties of the PVA film and the PVA/Graphene Oxide/Zinc oxide composite film were analyzed by electrical, thermo mechanical & spectroscopic analysis. Findings: The results showed that the incorporation of graphene oxide and zinc oxide into the PVA matrix resulted in enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability of PVA composite films. The tensile strength increases from 3.84 MPa of neat PVA to 10.48 MPa of PVA-0.05% GO-ZnO and Young’s modulus increases from 104.407 to 106.765 MPa. The elongation behavior of the Polymer is increased by the addition of Nano filler and it varies from 15.94 Mpa of pure PVA polymer film to 239.52 MPa of 1% loading -GO-ZnO hybrid filler. Such an enormous improvement in the mechanical properties at such low stacking of GO-ZnO can be credited to a property of GO-ZnO hybrid nano-filler. DC conductivity studies were also under taken on the samples and the conductivity was found to be 2.89510-6 S
cm􀀀1 for 5% loading of nano particle while pure PVA is observed as 9.95210-8. Keywords: GOZnO; Hybrid; filler; nanocomposite; PVA; Electrical Conductivity

Pervaporative Dehydration of Methanol Using PVA/Nanoclay Mixed Matrix Membranes: Experiments and Modeling.

Encouraged by the industrial problem of removing water from methanol solutions, a simple exfoliation method is applied to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/laponite nanoclay mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The membranes are used for the pervaporative dehydration of the methanol-water solution. The influence of the nanoclay content on the pervaporation performance is investigated. The results show that the PVA10 membrane containing 10 wt% Laponite loading exhibits excellent separation efficiency; therefore, all the experimental work is continued using the same membrane. Additionally, the effects of feed concentration and temperature on methanol dehydration performance are thoroughly investigated. The temperatures are ranging from 40–70 °C and the water feed concentrations from 1–15 wt% water. A maximum separation factor of 1120 can be observed at 40 °C and the feed water concentration of 1 wt%. Remarkably, two solution–diffusion models, the Rautenbach (Model I) and modified method by Valentínyi et al. (Model II), are used and compared to evaluate and describe the pervaporation performance of the mixed matrix membrane. Model II proves to be more appropriate for the modeling of pervaporative dehydration of methanol than Model I. This work demonstrates that PVA/nanoclay mixed matrix membranes prepared can efficiently remove water from methanol aqueous solution with pervaporation and the whole process can be accurately modeled with Model II.

RADIATION SYNTHESIS OF POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) PVA–(POLYVINYL PYRROLIDONE) PVP FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF CAPTOPRIL

RADIATION SYNTHESIS OF PVA POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL)–PVP (POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE) for IMMOBILIZATION OF CAPTOPRIL. The aim of this work is to prepare Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)- Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogel with varying irradiation doses and drug dose to be used as a matrix for immobilization and control drug release of captopril. Immobilization and release of captopril in PVA-PVP hydrogel copolymer have been carried out. A mixture of PVA-PVP (6:4 w/w) solution containing captopril (10-20 mg), freeze-thawing, irradiated using gamma rays at various irradiation doses (0-20 kGy). The gel fraction and water absorption were determined gravimetrically. The pores structure of hydrogels were observed using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). The captopril released from hydrogel in NaCl 0.9% solution was measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. After evaluated, it was found that with increasing dose up to 20 kGy, the gel fraction increases, and water absorption decreases, and the cumulative drug released decreases. SEM measurement showed that hydrogel had heterogeneous pores. PVA-PVP hydrogel prepared using gamma rays can be considered as a matrix for drug release.

Effects of Ultrasonication Time on the Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Nano-ZnO/Multilayer Graphene Nanoplatelet Composite Films.

Ultrasonication-assisted solution casting was used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/nano-ZnO/multilayer graphene nanoplatelet (xGnP) composite films; the performances (mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), biodegradability and antibacterial activity) of these films were investigated as a function of the ZnO NPs:xGnP mass ratio and ultrasonication time. Intermolecular interactions among ZnO NPs, xGnP and the PVA/CMC matrix were shown to improve WVP, while X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that the internal reticular structure of ultrasound-treated PVA/CMC/ZnO NPs/xGnP composite films was in a fluffier state than that of the untreated composite films and the PVA/CMC film. The incorporation of ZnO NPs and xGnP into the composite film reduced its tensile strength and elongation at break, and increased antibacterial activity and biodegradability. In addition, we carried out the experiment of strawberry preservation and measured weight loss ratio, firmness, content of total soluble solids and titration acid. Finally, the composite film of 7:3 had the best preservation effect on strawberries. Thus, the obtained results paved the way to develop novel biodegradable composite films with antimicrobial activity for a wide range of applications.

Fabrication and physicochemical assessment of L-Histidine cross-linked PVA/CMC bio-composite membranes for antibacterial and food-packaging applications

ABSTRACT The intention of this study was to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films and to improve their physicochemical properties by cross-linked with amino acids. Thus, the bio-composite films/membranes of PVA/CMC were an amalgamation with L- Histidine as the crosslinker via solution casting scheme. The effect of the L-Histidine addition on blend films was explored by various physio-chemical characterisation techniques. The contact angle assessment of the as-prepared film have remained increased (47.31, 50.42, and 58.09) by the addition of L-Histidine content. The antibacterial activity was tried against certain food pathogenic bacteria. To the extent of the clear zone width of the E. coli and B. cereus bacteria were included per filmstrips and the values of which remained constantly higher than the width of assumed films. Largely, the L-Histidine cross-linked PVA/CMC film happens to be a suitable material for an antibacterial agent and food-packaging applications.

Sustainable Development of Enhanced Luminescence Polymer-Carbon Dots Composite Film for Rapid Cd2+ Removal from Wastewater.

As a remedy for environmental pollution, a versatile synthetic approach has been developed to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) composite film (PVA-CDs) for removal of toxic cadmium ions. The CDs were first synthesized using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) of oil palms empty fruit bunch wastes with the addition of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and then the CDs were embedded with PVA. The PVA-CDs film possess synergistic functionalities through increasing the content of hydrogen bonds for chemisorption compared to the pure CDs. Optical analysis of PVA-CDs film was performed by ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Compared to the pure CDs, the solid-state PVA-CDs displayed a bright blue color with a quantum yield (QY) of 47%; they possess excitation-independent emission and a higher Cd2+ removal efficiency of 91.1%. The equilibrium state was achieved within 10 min. It was found that adsorption data fit well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum adsorption uptake was 113.6 mg g−1 at an optimal pH of 7. Desorption experiments showhe that adsorbent can be reused fruitfully for five adsorption-desorption cycles using 0.1 HCl elution. The film was successfully applied to real water samples with a removal efficiency of 95.34% and 90.9% for tap and drinking water, respectively. The fabricated membrane is biodegradable and its preparation follows an ecofriendly green route.

Flame Retardant Hybrid Paper Coatings with PVA - Melamine / Zinc Borat

Papers are raw materials with high flammability. Some of the products produced in the printing industry are used in places requiring high heat resistance. High-tech papers can be produced by adding a flame retardant to the paper coating formulation or pulp. In this study, it is aimed to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA )- zinc borate / melamine / zinc boratemelamine paper coating formulations and to produce flame retardant paper by coating on paper.For this purpose, primarily zinc borate is produced by boric acid and zinc carbonate reaction . In the second part of the study, four different coating formulations were prepared by adding zinc borate, melamine and their double mixtures to the main formulation, where PVA polymer matrix was used as binder, and coatings were made on an 80g/m2 paper surface. Limiting oxygen index (LOI ), gloss, color, surface energy and contact angles properties of the produced papers were determined. Offset printing was done onto coated papers with IGT C1 test printing machine. All produced flame retardant papers have good printability characteristics

A polyvinyl alcohol‐based mixed matrix membrane with uniformly distributed Schiff base network‐1 for ethanol dehydration

AbstractIn this study, Schiff base network (SNW)‐1 nanoparticles with high hydrophilicity and large specific surface area were used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which were evaluated for ethanol dehydration. Because of the low difference of density between SNW‐1 and PVA, the as‐prepared nanoparticles can be uniformly distributed into the PVA active layer. The effects of SNW‐1 loading, feed temperature, and water concentration on pervaporation (PV) performance were further studied. The results showed the MMM with 10 wt% of SNW‐1 loading exhibited a separation factor of 1,501 and a permeation flux of 187 g m−2 h−1 for feeding 95 wt% ethanol/water binary solution at 75°C. Overall, the SNW‐1/PVA MMMs showed great prospect in ethanol dehydration via PV.

Spectroscopic and Electrical Properties of Ag2S/PVA Nanocomposite Films for Visible-Light Optoelectronic Devices

Polymer nanocomposites are potential materials in the industrial sector and in our daily life due to their diverse properties and applications. Throughout the present study, solution casting technique has been used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filled with different weight (wt.) ratios percentages (%) (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 wt%) of silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs). The concentration dependence of spectroscopic and electrical behaviors based on PVA polymer dispersed with Ag2S has been investigated. The prepared films with the variation of loading filler concentrations from 0 to 10 wt% have been characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of Ag2S nanoparticles in the PVA matrix by studying the changes of the characterizing bands which reveal the interaction within the composite structure. Whilst photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the Ag2S/PVA nanocomposite films showed an interesting peak covering the entire range of interest for visible light optoelectronic devices at a very low concentration of the loading filler of Ag2S. The electrical properties of the plain and Ag2S NPs doped PVA nanocomposites have been studied using DC electrical conductivity (σDC) measurements performed over a temperature (T) range from 298 to 373 K. The study demonstrates the increase of the DC electrical conductivity with increasing filler content of Ag2S by three orders of magnitude. DC conductivity also showed temperature dependent behavior where the conductivity enhanced by five orders of magnitude when temperature increased up to 373 K. These novel results present Ag2S/PVA nanocomposites as a promising material in optoelectronics applications.

Solvent Dependence of the Rheological Properties in Hydrogel Magnetorheological Plastomer.

Chemically crosslinked hydrogel magnetorheological (MR) plastomer (MRP) embedded with carbonyl iron particles (CIPs) exhibits excellent magnetic performance (MR effect) in the presence of external stimuli especially magnetic field. However, oxidation and desiccation in hydrogel MRP due to a large amount of water content as a dispersing phase would limit its usage for long-term applications, especially in industrial engineering. In this study, different solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are also used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel MRP. Thus, to understand the dynamic viscoelastic properties of hydrogel MRP, three different samples with different solvents: water, DMSO, and their binary mixtures (DMSO/water) were prepared and systematically carried out using the oscillatory shear. The outcomes demonstrate that the PVA hydrogel MRP prepared from precursor gel with water shows the highest MR effect of 15,544% among the PVA hydrogel MRPs. However, the samples exhibit less stability and tend to oxidise after a month. Meanwhile, the samples with binary mixtures (DMSO/water) show an acceptable MR effect of 11,024% with good stability and no CIPs oxidation. Otherwise, the sample with DMSO has the lowest MR effect of 7049% and less stable compared to the binary solvent samples. This confirms that the utilisation of DMSO as a new solvent affects the rheological properties and stability of the samples.

Preparation of PVA-GO composite hydrogel and effect of ionic coordination on its properties

This paper adopts a method combining hybrid self-assembly, cyclic freezing-thawing and annealing treatment to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and graphene oxide (GO) composite hydrogel. Then, the PVA-GO composite hydrogels are re-swelled in different ionic solutions (NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2 and AlCl3) to improve mechanical strength, toughness and wear resistance by the ionic coordination bonds. The microstructure and morphology are characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), finding that the internal structure is porous three-dimensional network. Mechanical experiments indicate that the composite hydrogel with GO content of 0.05 wt% immersed in MgCl2 solution displays the best mechanical properties overall. Its tensile strength can reach 11.10 MPa and the elastic modulus reaches 1.72 MPa, which is 175% and 85% higher than the pure PVA, respectively. Sliding friction experiments illustrate that the composite hydrogel immersed in AlCl3 solution exhibits the lowest friction coefficient, and the higher the valence state of metal cation is, the better the wear reduction effect is. We expect to enrich the development of PVA-GO hydrogels in tissue engineering through synergy of hydrogen bonds and ionic coordination bonds.

Effect of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan blend ratios on morphological, optical, andthermal properties of electrospun nanofibers

In this study, the electrospinning method was used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CS) blend nanofibers from their solutions. The effect of blend ratios (PVA/CS: 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% (w/w)), applied voltage, and flow rate on the morphological, optical, and thermal properties of electrospun nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopies, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated the existence of related functional groups of both PVA and CS in the electrospun fibers. During the electrospinning process, the maximum possible ratio of CS was 7% (w/w). SEM images indicated that more flat nanofibers were synthesized at lower flow rates, but the shape of the fibers was more circular at higher flow rates. On the other hand, an increase in CS ratio, flow rate, and applied voltage caused a decrease in the transmittance values of the fibers while samples including higher concentrations of CS showed lower emission intensities. Furthermore, the thermal properties of the electrospun fibers were developed by incorporation of a high amount of CS.

3D printed capsules for quantitative regional absorption studies in the GI tract

Drug development is a long process which requires careful evaluation of the drug substance (active pharmaceutical ingredient, API), drug product (tablet, capsule etc.) and the bioperformance (both pre-clinical and clinical) before testing the efficacy of the final dosage form. The earliest assessment of a new drug substance requires an understanding of the safety and clinical performance (Phase 1) wherein faster processes (like on-site formulation strategy) have been set in place for quick clinical read-outs. One key gap that exists in this early assessment is the ability to evaluate modified release drug products. Here, an additive manufacturing approach is used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) capsule shells using 3D printing (3DP), where the shells can be filled with either a solid or a liquid vehicle containing the API. In this work we demonstrate how we can delay the release of the API from the printed capsules allowing us to evaluate regional absorption in pre-clinical studies. By using 3DP, a new method to provide a series of release profiles is demonstrated, where the induction time of a delayed burst release is controlled by the wall thicknesses of printed capsules. New hanging baskets were also designed and 3D printed for the dissolution tests to better understand the rupturing of these capsules in an USP 2 dissolution apparatus. By controlling the wall thickness of the capsule, the induction time of drug release can be controlled from 12 to 198 min. This wide range of induction times demonstrated with this 3DP strategy is not currently available in a commercially available oral drug product form. Varying the induction times to the drug release to interrogate different regions of the GI tract is exhibited in vivo (beagle dogs) and initial analysis suggested a good in vitro/in vivo relationship (IVIVR).

Polyvinyl alcohol thin film reinforced by green synthesized zirconia nanoparticles

The focus of this work is to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin film reinforced by green synthesized zirconia nanoparticles. In order to do so, firstly, zirconia nanoparticles were synthesized by the rosemary extract-assisted sol-gel process as both template and stabilizing agents. The results showed that the as-obtained sample with zirconium salt to rosemary extract ratio of 1:4 had a semi-spherical morphology with the mean particle size of 12–17 nm. This nanoparticle was added as reinforcement with different ratios to the polyvinyl alcohol matrix. The mechanical property of the as-prepared nanocomposites revealed that the elastic modulus of 1 wt% ZrO2-PVA sample was about 5.5 times higher than pure PVA thin film.

Polyvinyl Alcohol Microspheres Reinforced Thermoplastic Starch Composites.

We reported a new method to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) composites by using polyvinyl alcohol microspheres (PVAMS). The PVAMS/TPS composites were characterized using tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results exhibited that adding small amounts of PVAMSs can effectively improve the mechanical strength and toughness of the composites, especially for the 1 wt %PVAMS in TPS matrix, with a tensile strength of 3.5 MPa, an elongation at break at 71.73% and an impact strength of 33.4 kJ/m2. Furthermore, the SEM and shift in the tan δ peak (Tα and Tβ) at the maximum value of 69.87 and −36.52 °C indicates that the PVAMS decreased the mobility of the amorphous starch molecules due to the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between PVAMS and TPS. The peak temperature of maximum decomposition rate (Tp) of 1 wt % PVAMS/TPS composites increased about 5 °C compared with TPS in TGA curves.

Multi-functional hydroxyapatite/polyvinyl alcohol composite aerogels with self-cleaning, superior fire resistance and low thermal conductivity

Hybrid inorganic/polymer composite aerogels combine the advantages of both components which can overcome the brittle fracture of inorganic aerogels as well as high flammability of polymeric aerogels. Herein, we reported a facile approach to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite aerogel by freeze-casting process towards multi-functional aerogel materials. The incorporation of HAPs led to significant reduction in the peak heat release rate (−79%), total heat release (−76%), specific extinction area (−65%) and CO production (−45%). Vertical burning tests also manifested that PVA-HAP composite aerogels displayed excellent fire resistance and self-extinguishing behaviours. The resultant PVA-HAP composite aerogels also showed a low thermal conductivity (33.6–38.7 mW m−1 K−1). The hydrogen bonding formed between the HAP and the PVA matrix endowed the resultant composite aerogels with a specific modulus (58.7 kN m−1 kg−1) which was comparable to or even higher than those reported by state-of-the-art foams, including polystyrene foams, polyurethane foams and silica aerogels. After a facile polydimethylsiloxane treatment, the resultant PVA-HAP composite aerogels also exhibited water-repellent and self-cleaning capacity, which is a promising candidate as building insulating materials.