Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of (Poly[vinyl alcohol])‐Dialdehyde starch composites via the incorporation of montmorillonite nanofillers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of nano‐size montmorillonite (MMT) in poly(vinyl alcohol)‐(dialdehyde starch) (PVOH‐DAS) blending system. DAS was initially synthesized through periodate oxidation method, followed by a solution casting procedure to prepare a PVOH‐DAS‐MMT blend hybrid. Increasing the amount of MMT significantly increased the thermal decomposition temperatures of PVOH‐DAS blends. This is because the intercalated MMT particles in the PVOH‐DAS matrix could restrict the diffusion of oxygen and volatile gases throughout the PVOH‐DAS matrix by delaying the decomposition temperature. The incorporation of MMT particles into the PVOH‐DAS matrix has significantly increased the <i>d</i>‐spacing and interchain separation of peaks (001) and (002). The effective intercalation of PVOH‐DAS matrix into interlayer galleries of MMT particles could increase the interlayer galleries gap distance. Increasing the amounts of MMT has significantly increased the mechanical properties of all PVOH‐DAS blends. The intercalation effect of MMT particles in the PVOH‐DAS matrix could improve the compatibility between PVOH and DAS phases in the PVOH‐DAS matrix by effectively transferring applied stress throughout the polymer matrix. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E128–E141, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers