Nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica nanoparticles (PVA-SNs) were prepared by in-situ radical copolymerization of vinyl silica nanoparticles functionalized by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS) and vinyl acetate with benzoyl peroxide (BPO, i.e., initiator), subsequently saponified via direct-hydrolysis with NaOH solution. The resulting vinyl silica nanoparticles, PVA-SNs were characterized by means of fourier transformation spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and elemental analysis method. Effects of silica nanoparticles on viscosity and alcoholysis of PVA-SNs were studied by an ubbelohode capillary viscometer and back titration method. The morphological structure of PVA-SNs film was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile test were used to determine the thermal and mechanical properties of PVA-SNs films. The results indicated that the content of vinyl group on the surface of the vinyl silica nanoparticles was up to 3.02 mmol/g and vinyl silica nanoparticles had been successfully copolymerized with vinyl acetate. Furthermore, compared to pure PVA, silica nanoparticles bonded with polymer matrix in low concentration affected the viscosity and alcoholysis of the PVA-SNs materials. At the same time, it resulted in the improvement of the thermal and mechanical properties of the PVA-SNs materials due to strong interaction between silica nanoparticles and polymer matrix via covalent bond. Also, it could be found that optical clarity of membrane was changed through UV-Vis absorption spectrum because of introduction of silica nanoparticles. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
