Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogels and hydrogels are promising superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials. However, the chemical crosslinkers typically used in their synthesis are hazardous and toxic. To address this issue, we developed a sustainable fabrication method for silane-modified, hydrop...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025009958 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850028367350333440 |
|---|---|
| author | Hasan Safar Ishak Ahmad Suria Ramli Faizal Mohamed T. Daniel Thangadurai Sabu Thomas |
| author_facet | Hasan Safar Ishak Ahmad Suria Ramli Faizal Mohamed T. Daniel Thangadurai Sabu Thomas |
| author_sort | Hasan Safar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogels and hydrogels are promising superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials. However, the chemical crosslinkers typically used in their synthesis are hazardous and toxic. To address this issue, we developed a sustainable fabrication method for silane-modified, hydrophobic PVA aerogels. This method involves γ-irradiation of PVA for polymerization, followed by silanization through the chemical vapor deposition of methyltrichlorosilane onto the polymer surfaces. Fourier-transform infrared spectral peaks at 1636, 1407, and 1090–1021 cm⁻1 confirmed polymerization due to γ-irradiation, while peaks at 1270 and 767 cm⁻1 confirmed silanization. The water contact angles of the aerogels, ranging from 118° to 142°, demonstrated their hydrophobicity. The surface morphologies of the aerogels were analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and infinite focus microscopy. PVA aerogels treated with a γ-irradiation dosage of 30 kGy were confirmed to be optimal, as they exhibited a water contact angle of 139.0 ± 3.0° and a reduction in surface area after oil treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to assess weight-loss behavior, decomposition percentages, and glass transition temperatures of the aerogels. The 30 kGy PVA aerogel showed the highest thermal stability, with a maximum decomposition temperature of 185 °C. The findings confirm that γ-irradiation is a promising, sustainable approach to polymerization, and these silane-modified PVA aerogels show potential for applications in oil-water separation and treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16013f41bda64cd09b942bd8acf8f3a0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-16013f41bda64cd09b942bd8acf8f3a02025-08-20T02:59:50ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-03-01115e4261510.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42615Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogelsHasan Safar0Ishak Ahmad1Suria Ramli2Faizal Mohamed3T. Daniel Thangadurai4Sabu Thomas5Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, 43650, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, 43650, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author.Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, 43650, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, 43650, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Centre for Research and Development, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, 641407, Tamilnadu, IndiaMahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala-686 560, India; Trivandrum Engineering Science & Technology Research Park (TrEST Research Park), Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaPolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogels and hydrogels are promising superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials. However, the chemical crosslinkers typically used in their synthesis are hazardous and toxic. To address this issue, we developed a sustainable fabrication method for silane-modified, hydrophobic PVA aerogels. This method involves γ-irradiation of PVA for polymerization, followed by silanization through the chemical vapor deposition of methyltrichlorosilane onto the polymer surfaces. Fourier-transform infrared spectral peaks at 1636, 1407, and 1090–1021 cm⁻1 confirmed polymerization due to γ-irradiation, while peaks at 1270 and 767 cm⁻1 confirmed silanization. The water contact angles of the aerogels, ranging from 118° to 142°, demonstrated their hydrophobicity. The surface morphologies of the aerogels were analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and infinite focus microscopy. PVA aerogels treated with a γ-irradiation dosage of 30 kGy were confirmed to be optimal, as they exhibited a water contact angle of 139.0 ± 3.0° and a reduction in surface area after oil treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to assess weight-loss behavior, decomposition percentages, and glass transition temperatures of the aerogels. The 30 kGy PVA aerogel showed the highest thermal stability, with a maximum decomposition temperature of 185 °C. The findings confirm that γ-irradiation is a promising, sustainable approach to polymerization, and these silane-modified PVA aerogels show potential for applications in oil-water separation and treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025009958Gamma radiationPolymerizationPolyvinyl alcoholAerogelSilanization |
| spellingShingle | Hasan Safar Ishak Ahmad Suria Ramli Faizal Mohamed T. Daniel Thangadurai Sabu Thomas Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels Heliyon Gamma radiation Polymerization Polyvinyl alcohol Aerogel Silanization |
| title | Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels |
| title_full | Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels |
| title_fullStr | Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels |
| title_short | Influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) aerogels |
| title_sort | influence of gamma irradiation on the hydrophobicity properties of modified poly vinyl alcohol pva aerogels |
| topic | Gamma radiation Polymerization Polyvinyl alcohol Aerogel Silanization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025009958 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hasansafar influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels AT ishakahmad influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels AT suriaramli influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels AT faizalmohamed influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels AT tdanielthangadurai influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels AT sabuthomas influenceofgammairradiationonthehydrophobicitypropertiesofmodifiedpolyvinylalcoholpvaaerogels |