Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films Reinforced with Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Stem Fiber: Thermal, Mechanical and Biodegradation Studies

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol/Glycerol/Citric acid based composite samples have been synthesized by the method of solvent casting. The composites have been explored in terms of thermal, tensile, biodegradability, water absorption analysis and SEM study with the addition of Colocasia esculenta stem fiber (2.5-20.0 %). The equilibrium water absorption percentage with the addition of fiber and upon the increasing content of fiber has been found to be increased with an abrupt change above 12.5 % fiber content. The high value of degradation percentage has been however observed with 20 % loading of fiber (29.13±1.28). Thermal stability of the composite films has also been found to show positive results with the addition of fiber with maximum value of onset degradation temperature obtained with 7.5 % reinforcement. The incorporation of fiber has resulted in enhancement of tensile strength due to modified interfacial adhesion between fiber and matrix with maximum value of 36.06±0.25 MPa obtained for composite with 7.5 % loading of fiber. SEM micrographs have shown the smooth and homogeneous surface of composite film without any loading of fiber (CE-0). High loading of fiber (20 %) however has introduced some voids, holes and cracks in the samples making it easy for water molecules to permeate in the composites responsible for its water absorption percentage.