| Abstract
| - The influence of silver (Ag) nanoparticles on the properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)was investigated. The nanocomposite was prepared by mixing a colloidal solution consistingof silver nanoparticles with a water solution of PVA in appropriate ratios. Composite filmswith different contents of inorganic phase were obtained after solvent evaporation. Thecontents of the inorganic phase in the nanocomposites were determined by using atomicabsorption spectroscopy (AA) for silver, and were found to be 0.19, 0.33, and 0.73 wt %.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the nanocomposite films revealed the presenceof Ag particles with average diameter of 20 nm. Comparison of the thermal properties ofthe pure polymer and the nanocomposite films showed that the thermal stability is improvedby about 40 °C, and the glass transition temperature is shifted to a higher temperature upto 20 °C for the highest content of the nanofiller. An increase in Young's modulus and strengthof the nanocomposite was also observed with an increase in Ag content, indicating significantreinforcement of the matrix in the presence of nanoparticles. Stress relaxation measurementsrevealed reduced stability of the nanocomposite upon prolonged loading, compared to thepure PVA matrix.
- Ag-filled PVA nanocomposites were prepared which had exceptional thermal and mechanical properties for the amount of nanoparticles in the matrix. For less than 1 wt % Ag nanoparticles in the PVA matrix, the glass transition temperature increased by 20 °C and the thermal decomposition temperature increased by 40 °C. The matrix was also found to be significantly reinforced.
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