Mechanical Properties of PVA-ZnO and PVA– CeO2 nanocomposite films

Abstract: Mechanical properties of pure Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA), PVA-9wt% ZnO, PVA-2.5wt% CeO2 and PVA- 25wt% CeO2 nanocomposite films prepared by traditional solution casting technique were studied using Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to elucidate various parameters like tensile strength, Young’s modulus, percentage of elongation at the break to understand the mechanical strength of these materials. Nano ZnO and nano CeO2 used as fillers were prepared by cost effective low temperature solution combustion method. The crystallinity and surface morphology and nature of dispersion of nano fillers in these films were ascertained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The studies reveal an increase in tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the material in nano CeO2 doped composite films compared to the host PVA polymer matrix. Whereas, nano ZnO doped composite films showed a slightly decreased value compared to pure PVA. The maximum tensile strength and highest Young's modulus is found in PVA-25wt% CeO2 nanocomposite films, indicating higher mechanical strength which is attributed to special morphological and microstructural changes in these films which is evident from the SEM images.

Keywords: Mechanical Properties, Tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, nanocomposites, XRD