Polyacrylonitrile reinforced PVA based-polymeric networks: Structural, morphological, and mechanical aspects

Abstract

Various bioengineering and industrial applications demand hard, tough, and mechanically strong polymeric blends. A novel combination of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylonitrile was used to synthesize semi‐IPNs using redox polymerization method in order to achieve desired property combinations in terms of toughness, generally not found in a single polymeric material. The synthesized end products in the form of polymer matrix were characterized by FTIR spectral analysis in order to confirm the incorporation of PAN into PVA, while the morphological aspects studied by AFM analysis showed fair compatibility between the component polymers exhibiting quite smooth surface and nanosize domains. Microhardness investigations were undertaken using the Vicker's indentation technique and the results were analyzed in terms of strain hardening phenomenon. Increase in surface hardness was observed as a result of variation of PVA content within the gel matrix whereas the presence of acrylonitrile as the second network was found to impart toughness as observed by the tensile strength measurements. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2579–2586, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Study of flame‐resistant acrylic fibers reinforced by poly(vinyl alcohol)

“…However, the use of PVA to improve the mechanical properties of PAN fibers has rarely been studied. Most of the studies of PAN/PVA composite materials focused on the reinforcement effect of PAN on PVA‐based membranes or polymeric networks . The high hydrophilicity of the PVA membranes or networks made their wet breaking strength quite low; therefore, the addition of hydrophobic PAN was favorable for the improvement of their mechanical properties.…”

“…The high hydrophilicity of the PVA membranes or networks made their wet breaking strength quite low; therefore, the addition of hydrophobic PAN was favorable for the improvement of their mechanical properties. Desphande et al . studied the structural, morphological, and mechanical aspects of PAN‐reinforced PVA‐based polymeric networks in detail recently.…”