Rubber-like and biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) composites with triple networks for high-efficiency solvent barrier

• Published in: Composites science and technology 2023-01, Vol.231, p.109801, Article 109801
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ning, Pang, Yong, Li, Zhaohui, Yang, Chuanhui, Zong, Lu, Yang, Hongsheng, Wu, Hao, Duan, Yongxin, Zhang, Jianming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Elastomer; Poly (vinyl alcohol); Polymer composites; Solvent barrier property
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2022.109801

To meet the sustainable development goals, developing soft materials with rubber-like elasticity, superior solvent barrier property, and biodegradability are highly desired for chemical protective coatings. Herein, biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based elastomers with excellent solvent barrier property and high elasticity are fabricated by using a water-soluble polyamide-amine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin as a green crosslinker for the carboxyl modified PVA (PVA-C) matrix. It is found that PAE can crosslink the carboxyl PVA chains effectively to form a chemically crosslinked network and the slight crystallization of carboxyl PVA contributes to the physical crosslinking network. Moreover, the high loading of kaolinite filler constitutes the filler networks. Benefiting from the collaborative triple networks, as-prepared PVA composites demonstrated excellent elastomer behavior, showing a full recovery to their original state even after 103 times of stretching-releasing. Furthermore, its application as a chemical protective glove demonstrated the highly efficient barrier against various chemical solvents permeation accordant with the highest level-6 of EN374 standard, and its degradation rate is over 20% after a 120-days natural soil burial test. [Display omitted] •An innovatively biodegradable PVA-based elastomer (PCPK) showed excellent elastomer behavior, the highly efficient barrier against various chemical solvents permeation accordant with the highest level-6 of EN374 standard.•The PCPK also showed degradability and was far superior to traditional rubber materials.•This work tackled a standing dilemma among water resistance, flexible wearability and degradability for the PVA-based materials.