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4 PVA Bionanocomposite Films with Different Particle …
4.9 Thermal Properties
PVA is a water-soluble semicrystalline polymer, in which high physical interchain
and intrachain interactions exist because of typical hydrogen bonding between
hydroxyl groups. The inclusion of nanoclays with hydroxyl groups could alter the
intramolecular and intermolecular interactions of PVA molecular chains. This may
affect both crystallisation behaviour and physical structures of PVA. Similar observations can be found in previous studies dealing with PVA/HNT bionanocomposites
[41, 50] and PVA/Cloisite 30B clay bionanocomposites [23]. Figure 4.13 shows the
results of PVA/ HNT bionanocomposites, PVA/Cloisite 30B clay bionanocomposites
and PVA/ NBC bionanocomposites determined by differential scanning calorimetry
(DSC). The summarised data of these thermal characteristics are reported in Table 4.1.
For PVA/ HNT bionanocomposites, it is clearly seen that the T g of PVA becomes
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 4.13 DSC thermograms of PVA bionanocomposites reinforced with a HNTs, b Cloisite 30B
clays and c NBCs [12]