Properties and structural characterization of oxidized starch/PVA/α- zirconium phosphate composites

Abstract

Two series of composites, i.e., polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/oxidized starch (OST)/exfoliated α-zirconium phosphate (POST-ZrPn) and PVA/starch (ST)/exfoliated α-zirconium phosphate (PST-ZrPn), were fabricated using a casting and solvent evaporation method. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile testing, and moisture uptake. Compared with PSTZrPn, POST-ZrPn films with the same component ratio showed higher tensile strength (σb), lower elongation at break (εb) and improved water resistance. Additionally, in the POST-ZrPn series, σb and εb increased with an increase in α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) loading; however, higher a-ZrP loads resulted in the aggregation of α-ZrP particles. Compared with POST-ZrP0, the values for σb, εb, and water resistance of POST-ZrP3, containing 1.5 wt % α-ZrP, were increased by 128.8%, 51.4%, and 30.2%, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.