Tensile and swelling properties of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/halloysite nanotubes nanocomposite

Abstract

Halloysite nanotubes filled nanocomposite films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CS) blend were prepared via solution casting method. Tensile, morphology and swelling properties of the nanocomposite films were investigated. Addition of 0.5 wt% filler leads to improvement in tensile strength, elongation at break and Young modulus of the nanocomposite films. Increase roughness and tearing in the fracture surface morphology further supports the tensile results. Moreover, the presence of HNT in the blend reduced the swelling of the nanocomposite films in distilled water.