Organophosphorus Reinforced Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites Doped with Silver-Loaded Zeolite L Nanoparticles as Sustainable Materials for Packaging Applications

• Published in: Polymers 2023-06, Vol.15 (11), p.2573
• Main Authors: Vlad-Bubulac, Tăchiță, Hamciuc, Corneliu, Serbezeanu, Diana, Suflet, Dana Mihaela, Rusu, Daniela, Lisa, Gabriela, Anghel, Ion, Preda, Dana-Maria, Todorova, Totka, Rîmbu, Cristina Mihaela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopolymers; Composite materials; Contact angle; Dichlorides; Electron microscopes; Flame retardants; Food supply; Heat release rate; Identification and classification; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Organophosphorus compounds; Oxalic acid; Plastics; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Scanning electron microscopy; Scanning microscopy; Silver; Spectrum analysis; Sustainable development; Sustainable materials; Ultimate tensile strength; X-ray spectroscopy; Zeolites
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym15112573

The sustainable development of innovative eco-friendly multifunctional nanocomposites, possessing superior characteristics, is a noteworthy topic. Novel semi-interpenetrated nanocomposite films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) covalently and thermally crosslinked with oxalic acid (OA), reinforced with a novel organophosphorus flame retardant (PFR-4) derived from co-polycondensation in solution reaction of equimolar amounts of co-monomers, namely, bis((6-oxido-6H-dibenz[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphorinyl)-(4-hydroxyaniline)-methylene)-1,4-phenylene, bisphenol S, and phenylphosphonic dichloride, in a molar ratio of 1:1:2, and additionally doped with silver-loaded zeolite L nanoparticles (ze-Ag), have been prepared by casting from solution technique. The morphology of the as prepared PVA-oxalic acid films and their semi-interpenetrated nanocomposites with PFR-4 and ze-Ag was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the homogeneous distribution of the organophosphorus compound and nanoparticles within the nanocomposite films has been introspected by means of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). It was established that composites with a very low phosphorus content had noticeably improved flame retardancy. The peak of the heat release rate was reduced up to 55%, depending on the content of the flame-retardant additive and the doping ze-Ag nanoparticles introduced into the PVA/OA matrix. The ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus increased significantly in the reinforced nanocomposites. Considerably increased antimicrobial activity was revealed in the case of the samples containing silver-loaded zeolite L nanoparticles.