Structural and Mechanical Properties of MgO-Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Film

Nanoparticles play a major role in development of new hybrid composites for various engineering applications. In this work, we are reporting on the investigation of structural and mechanical properties of magnesium oxide nanoparticles reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (MgO-PVA) nanocomposite film. The MgO nanoparticles are prepared with chemical precipitation method. MgO nanoparticles (2%) are reinforced in to the PVA suspension using ultra-sonication method and the nanocomposite film is made using solvent casting method. The structural properties such as morphology, particle size of MgO nanoparticles, purity, compositions and surface roughness of nanocomposite film have been analyzed with scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis, and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The presence of functional groups in nanocomposite film is analysed with FT-IR. The investigation on structural properties is confirming the strong interfacial attraction between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix. Mechanical tests such as elongation at break (%), Young's modulus and tensile strength have been investigated and our results show the enhancement in mechanical properties of nanocomposite film rather than bare PVA film. This is due to uniform dispersion of MgO nanoparticles in the PVA polymer matrix and strong interaction between the hydroxyl group of PVA and oxygen atom of MgO. This has been evidently seen through FT-IR spectra. Our investigation results show the great potential of polymer based nanocomposites in engineering and mechanical applications.