Preparation and Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Carbonized Waste Rubber Biocomposite Films

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Waste Management

Background:

• Composite materials possess crucial technological properties for high-performance applications.
• Waste tire disposal presents environmental challenges, necessitating recycling solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) properties by incorporating recycled carbon materials from waste tires.
• To develop sustainable biocomposite films with enhanced electrical and mechanical characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of PVA biocomposite films with varying carbonized waste rubber content.
• Characterization using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometry, conductivity measurements, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and XPM analyses.
• Evaluation of thermal, rheological, electrical, morphological, and nanomechanical properties.

Main Results:

• Increased carbonized waste rubber content led to decreased flexibility and increased hardness and brittleness in PVA biocomposite films.
• Electrical conductivity of the biocomposite films significantly increased with higher carbonized waste rubber content.
• Morphological and nanomechanical analyses confirmed the structural changes with increasing filler content.

Conclusions:

• The incorporation of carbonized waste rubber effectively enhances the electrical conductivity and hardness of PVA.
• The developed PVA biocomposite films are promising candidates for applications in the electronics industry.
• This study demonstrates a viable method for recycling waste tires into valuable materials.