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Effect of electron‐beam irradiation followed by annealing on the physical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)–chitosan blend films at different weight ratios
Author(s) -
Jahanabadi Robabe,
Sheikh Nasrin,
Mahdavi Hamid,
Bagheri Rouhollah
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.47820
Subject(s) - crystallinity , vinyl alcohol , materials science , irradiation , ultimate tensile strength , swelling , elongation , annealing (glass) , chitosan , polymer , scanning electron microscope , nuclear chemistry , swelling capacity , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , physics
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the effect of electron‐beam irradiation followed by annealing on the physical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–chitosan (CS) blend films. Solution‐cast films containing various ratios of polymers were exposed to irradiation doses of 26, 39, and 52 kGy at room temperature and then annealed at 100 °C. The results show that at all doses, with an increase in the weight ratio of CS, the gel content of the samples decreased, and the water absorption of the samples increased. The irradiation dose ranged from 26 to 39 kGy; this led to an increased gel content and a decreased degree of swelling in the samples. However, at 52 kGy, an increase in the amount of swelling was observed. X‐ray diffraction analysis and scanning electronic microscopy images of the samples revealed that the increase in the irradiation dose reduced the crystallinity and increased the surface heterogeneity, respectively. The tensile strength of the blends decreased with decreasing PVA–CS weight ratio. This property of the samples increased with dose from 26 to 39 kGy and decreased at 52 kGy. The elongation at break of the samples decreased with both an increase in the irradiation dose and a decrease in the CS content. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47820.