Preparation of novel polyvinyl alcohol-based bionanocomposites and determination of their properties

This thesis aims to prepare and investigate the properties of novel poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanocomposites. In this context, the newly synthesized methacrylate-based poly(2-oxo-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)anilino]ethyl-2-methylprop-2-enoate) (PTFMAM) polymer was blended with PVA biopolymer using a hydrothermal method. Additionally, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) obtained by biosynthesis were added to the PTFMAM– PVA mixture to obtain nanocomposite structures. The structural and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, TEM, and FTIR analyses. Thermal properties were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that blending with PTFMAM and the addition of Ag NPs increased the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of PVA. Furthermore, improvements were achieved in the dielectric properties of the nanocomposites, and the water solubility of PVA decreased with the addition of Ag NPs. Biological analyses revealed an increase in the oxidant/antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the nanocomposites. Consequently, it was evaluated that the developed PTFMAM–PVA/Ag nanocomposites, due to their improved properties, could be an alternative material in areas where PVA is used. Biological activity studies revealed enhanced oxidant/antioxidant and antimicrobial properties for the nanocomposites. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the developed PTFMAM–PVA/Ag nanocomposites exhibit improved thermal, dielectric, and biological performance, suggesting their potential use as alternative materials in applications where PVA is commonly employed. Keywords: Polyvinyl alcohol, nanocomposites, silver nanoparticles, thermal properties, antimicrobial activity.