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Thermal, Rheological, and Moisture Absorption Behaviours of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Lignin Composites
Erdem Selver1,2, Ayca Dogrul Selver3, Abu Saifullah1
1Portsmouth Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (PCAMM), School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK.
Polymers
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blended with lignin shows reduced viscosity but enhanced thermal stability and decreased moisture absorption. This lignin-PVA composite offers improved eco-friendly material properties.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Lignin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are established biodegradable materials.
- Their use enables the development of eco-friendly composite structures.
- Understanding their blend properties is crucial for sustainable material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of incorporating varying lignin proportions (0.5-10 wt%) into PVA.
- To analyze the resulting changes in thermal, rheological, and moisture absorption behaviors.
- To evaluate the potential of lignin-PVA blends as advanced eco-friendly materials.
Main Methods:
- Rheological analysis to determine viscosity changes.
- Thermal analysis (DSC/TGA) to assess melting behavior and thermal stability.
- Moisture absorption tests to quantify water uptake.
Main Results:
- Lignin addition decreased PVA viscosity by up to 25% due to plasticization.
- No significant impact on PVA's melting behavior was observed.
- Increased lignin content significantly enhanced thermal stability, evidenced by a rise in char residue from 0.48% to 4.15%.
- Lignin's hydrophobic nature reduced PVA moisture absorption by up to 6%.
Conclusions:
- Lignin acts as a plasticizer in PVA, reducing viscosity.
- Lignin incorporation improves the thermal stability of PVA composites.
- The hydrophobic properties of lignin effectively mitigate moisture absorption in PVA.
- Lignin-PVA blends present a promising route for developing enhanced biodegradable materials.
