The synergetic effect of chiral organoclay and surface modified-Al2O3 nanoparticles on thermal and physical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) based nanocomposite films

In the present investigation, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/organoclay/surface modified Al2O3 nanocomposites (POANC)s of different compositions were prepared by solution intercalation method. The nanocomposite films were obtained by mixing a colloidal solution consisting of surface modified Al2O3 nanoparticles (1, 3 and 6 wt%) with a water solution of PVA and organoclay (10 wt%) via ultrasound-assisted technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV–vis spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the morphology and properties of the POANCs. TGA and UV–vis results indicated that the thermal stability was enhanced distinctly, without a sacrifice in optical clarity. The improvement in the thermal properties of the hybrid materials was due to strong hydrogen bonding between OH groups of PVA, free acid functionalized groups of organoclay and the oxygen atoms of Al2O3 nanoparticles. TEM and FE-SEM results also showed that the organoclay and Al2O3 were dispersed homogeneously in PVA matrix.

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► A reactive chiral organoclay was formed using natural l-methionine amino acid.
► The surface of the Al2O3 nanoparticles was modified by KH550 coupling agent.
► The synergetic effect of chiral organoclay and Al2O3 on PVA matrix was investigated.
► Nanocomposite were prepared via solution intercalation method by ultrasonication.
► TEM and FE-SEM show that both nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in PVA matrix.