Effects of fiber surface chemistry and size on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films reinforced with electrospun fibers

Electrospun cellulose nanofibrous mats (CNM) and cellulose acetate nanofibrous mats (CANM) reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites films were fabricated through solution impregnation method. The effect of fiber size and surface structure on the fiber/PVA interfacial adhesion, and consequently on the macroscopic properties such as optical, tensile, and dynamical mechanical properties of composite films were studied. The fractured surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy. It showed that interfacial debonding happened to CANM/PVA composites, whereas good interfacial adhesion was formed for CNM/PVA composites. The visible light transmittance and the mechanical properties of PVA composite films were evaluated. CNM/PVA showed higher optical transparency than CANM/PVA composite films. Additionally, the light transmittance of CNM/PVA was insensitive to temperature. Dynamical mechanical analysis demonstrated that the storage moduli of electrospun fiber/PVA composite films were obviously improved in the glass–rubber transition and rubbery zone, but more significantly in the melting zone.