Preparation and study of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Attapulgite nanocomposite fibers with high strength and high Young's modulus by gel spinning

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Attapulgite (ATT) nanocomposite fibers with high strength and high Young's modulus were prepared via gel spinning. The structures and properties of PVA/ATT nanocomposite fibers were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), and mechanical testing. The results showed that ATT had a great influence on the structures and properties of PVA/ATT nanocomposite fibers. The melting temperatures, crystallinities, initial decomposition temperatures and maximum decomposition temperatures of PVA/ATT nanocomposite fibers increased firstly when ATT content was increased from zero to 3 wt%, however, they were then dropped when ATT contents were 5 wt% and 7 wt%. The highest melting temperature, crystallinity, initial decomposition temperature and maximum decomposition temperature of PVA/ATT-3 were 240.4 degrees C, 67.6%, 266.7 degrees C and 358.6 degrees C, respectively. Furthermore, ESEM observation indicated that ATT had good adhesion to PVA matrix. Mechanical tests showed that PVA/ATT-3 had the highest breaking tensile and Young's modulus of 12.6 cN/dtex and 301.9 cN/dtex, respectively.