Probing morphological aspects of PVC/ZnO nanocomposite through image analysis techniques

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely used thermoplastic polymer in various applications due to its appropriate mechanical strength, durability, and chemical-resistant nature. However, its inherent thermal instability and overall performance tend to limit its usefulness efficiently. The dispersion of zinc oxide (ZnO) and other nanomaterials to enhance the material's properties has received huge consideration in recent years. The present study explores the morphological aspects of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via solution casting technique. ZnO nanoparticles, due to their specific shape and surface properties, significantly impact the polymeric structure of the composite at the nano level. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis technique is used to obtain micrographs of PVC/ZnO specimens at different concentration levels. Image analysis techniques are applied to these SEM micrographs to get morphological insight, like the level of dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles, their uniformity, positions, and to correlate them with their thermomechanical and mechanical, and other relevant properties.