Chapter 2
Materials, Methodology
and Characterisation Techniques
Abstract In this chapter, material selection, processing procedures and characterisation techniques used for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bionanocomposites reinforced with
montmorillonite (MMT) clays, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and bamboo charcoals
(BCs) were detailed to provide a comprehensive guideline for researchers, materials
scientists and engineers, as well as industrial R&D staff to explore the feasibility of
such new bionanocomposite material systems for potential use in the near future.
Keywords Bionanocomposites · Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) · Material selection ·
Characterisation techniques
2.1 Materials
2.1.1 Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)
PVA as a popular water-soluble biopolymer was used in this study, which
was supplied by Sigma Aldrich Pty Ltd., Australia, with a material type given
by MFCD00081922. Such a selected PVA has a molecular weight of 89,000–
98,000 g/mol and the degree of hydrolysis of 99.0–99.8% according to its datasheet
for material specification [1].
2.1.2 Nanoparticles
Three different structures and shapes of nanofillers were employed in this work,
namely Cloisite 30B montmorillonite (MMT) clays, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)
and bamboo charcoals (BCs). All these three nanofillers are naturally abundant and
can be used widely in biomaterial applications. Moreover, the effects of their different
structures and shapes on material performance and properties of PVA nanocomposites are of particular interest in this study. 1D platelet-like Cloisite 30B clays comprise
–OH groups between their clay interlayer areas, which promotes the insertion of
PVA molecules between these layers to form intercalated/exfoliated clay structures.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Mousa and Y. Dong, Multiscaled PVA Bionanocomposite Films,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8771-9_2
41
Materials, Methodology
and Characterisation Techniques
Abstract In this chapter, material selection, processing procedures and characterisation techniques used for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bionanocomposites reinforced with
montmorillonite (MMT) clays, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and bamboo charcoals
(BCs) were detailed to provide a comprehensive guideline for researchers, materials
scientists and engineers, as well as industrial R&D staff to explore the feasibility of
such new bionanocomposite material systems for potential use in the near future.
Keywords Bionanocomposites · Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) · Material selection ·
Characterisation techniques
2.1 Materials
2.1.1 Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)
PVA as a popular water-soluble biopolymer was used in this study, which
was supplied by Sigma Aldrich Pty Ltd., Australia, with a material type given
by MFCD00081922. Such a selected PVA has a molecular weight of 89,000–
98,000 g/mol and the degree of hydrolysis of 99.0–99.8% according to its datasheet
for material specification [1].
2.1.2 Nanoparticles
Three different structures and shapes of nanofillers were employed in this work,
namely Cloisite 30B montmorillonite (MMT) clays, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)
and bamboo charcoals (BCs). All these three nanofillers are naturally abundant and
can be used widely in biomaterial applications. Moreover, the effects of their different
structures and shapes on material performance and properties of PVA nanocomposites are of particular interest in this study. 1D platelet-like Cloisite 30B clays comprise
–OH groups between their clay interlayer areas, which promotes the insertion of
PVA molecules between these layers to form intercalated/exfoliated clay structures.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Mousa and Y. Dong, Multiscaled PVA Bionanocomposite Films,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8771-9_2
41