Nano-ZnO doping induced changes in structure, mechanical and optical properties of PVA films

Abstract EN

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using the coprecipitation method.

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to confirm the nanopartical size of the ZnO powder sample.

ZnO NPs (with different ratios) were dispersed into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to get ZnO/PVA nanocomposites using the blending method.

The structure of PVA polymer and ZnO/PVA nanocomposites was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of PVA and ZnO/PVA nanocomposites has been carried out before and after γ-irradiation with different doses.

The TGA, DTG thermograms and the degradation activation energy have been studied.

The results indicated the enhancement in thermal stability of PVA polymer as an effect of ZnO NPs.

Irradiation doses lead to a change in the degradation activation energy as a result of the degradation and cross-linking processes of the PVA polymer.

Moreover, the mechanical performance of PVA polymer has been improved by adding ZnO NPs and by γ-irradiation.

The optical band gap of the PVA film was investigated with different ratios of ZnO NPs.

The band gap decreased with increasing the ZnO NPs ratio.

The effect of γ-irradiation, with different doses on the optical band gap of ZnO/PVA nanocomposites also has been studied.