Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites

6Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polylactic Acid-Based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites

Ashitha Jose and Radhakrishnan E.K.*

School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala

Abstract

The science of material engineering is currently evolving at a rapid pace in search of tailor-made polymers for specific applications in all sector varying from medicine to agriculture. Among the various polymers exploited till date, the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly lactic acid (PLA) have found major applications owing to its easy availability, cost effectiveness, versatile properties and so on. However, its application is limited by the native properties of the polymer. The incorporation of plasticizers and filler molecules in the form of nanomaterials and natural components are aimed at both enhancing the material characteristics and imparting specific activity such as antimicrobial potential to the developed bionanocomposites. In the food industry, PVA and PLA based polymer composites have applications to enhance the shelf life of the product and also act as sensors to determine the purity and safety of the packed food. On the other hand, in medicine, they find applications as various replacements in the body and also in the development of a range of medical devices. Tailor made bionanocomposites based on PVA and PLA can be obtained through various methods such as melt compounding, solvent based methods and electrospinning techniques and can effectively modulate the physical and mechanical ...