Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Synthesis of Graphene-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites for Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering
Published on: July 27, 2022
Synthesis of Montmorillonite Clay/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites and Their Mechanical Properties
1School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
Abstract:
The montmorillonite/poly(vinyl alcohol) (MMT/PVA) nanocomposites films were synthesized by aqueous dispersion of MMT clay to PVA solution at 70-75 °C for 4 h. The average thicknesses of the MMT/PVA films were 85-120 μm. The amount of clay was varied between 0-5 wt%. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the coexistence of exfoliated and intercalated structure of MMT clay in PVA. The Raman analysis of 1 wt% MMT/PVA showed, increased peak intensity at 1146.5 cm-1, that is indicator of higher crystallinity compare to pure PVA. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of MMT/PVA nanocomposite films showed an increase in the storage modulus. The optimum value of storage modulus obtained was 8,752 MPa on dispersing 1.0 wt% MMT clay in the PVA yielding 20.0% increase in the storage modulus compare to the pure PVA films. Thermo-gravimetric, analysis (TGA) of the MMT/PVA nanocomposite films also showed the increase in the thermal stability with respect to pure PVA films. The 1.0 wt% MMT clay loading in PVA, improved the thermal stability of MMT/PVA to 325 °C compared to 250 °C for pure PVA.
Related Concept Videos
Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols
Alcohols possess a higher boiling point than aliphatic hydrocarbons of similar...
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
Protection of Alcohols
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration synthesis (also called a condensation reaction) is the chemical process in which two molecules covalently link together to form a new molecule, along with the release of a water molecule. Many physiologically important compounds form by dehydration synthesis reactions, such as complex carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Synthesis of carbohydrates
Sugar molecules are covalently linked together by dehydration synthesis. During the reaction, the hydroxyl (-OH) group from...
Synthesis and Decomposition Reactions

