Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization

This study focused on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) utilizing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent and silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder with titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder to reduce or prevent the hydrophilic property of PVA. Integrati...

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Main Authors: Rania F. Khedr, Mohamed Abd Elhady
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1664
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author Rania F. Khedr
Mohamed Abd Elhady
author_facet Rania F. Khedr
Mohamed Abd Elhady
author_sort Rania F. Khedr
collection DOAJ
description This study focused on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) utilizing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent and silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder with titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder to reduce or prevent the hydrophilic property of PVA. Integrating SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> into the PVA boosted the hydrophobicity, thermal properties, and self-cleaning of the PVA film. The characteristic properties of PVA/GA, PVA/SiO<sub>2</sub>/GA, and PVA/SiO<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>/GA nanocomposites polymer membranes were investigated by gel content, swelling capacity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle. The resulting PVA/5%SiO2/1%TiO<sub>2</sub>/GA nanocomposite exhibits much better physical properties than PVA/GA hydrogel (water absorbency from 3.1 g/g to 0.07 g/g and contact angel from 0° to 125°). In addition, the nanocomposite retains very low swelling properties. These prepared nanocomposites are promising in a variety of applications such as sand soil stabilizers, construction, and building works where they exhibit excellent water resistance performance. This study introduces a novel approach for creating hydrophobic polymeric membranes from hydrophilic polymeric materials to stabilize sandy soil effectively.
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spelling doaj-art-7a9c2dd3db504e7eb12852ababa6355e2025-08-20T03:13:52ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308166410.3390/molecules30081664Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil StabilizationRania F. Khedr0Mohamed Abd Elhady1Chemistry Department, Al Leith-University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi ArabiaNational Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Department of Polymer Chemistry, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo 11787, EgyptThis study focused on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) utilizing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent and silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder with titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) nanopowder to reduce or prevent the hydrophilic property of PVA. Integrating SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> into the PVA boosted the hydrophobicity, thermal properties, and self-cleaning of the PVA film. The characteristic properties of PVA/GA, PVA/SiO<sub>2</sub>/GA, and PVA/SiO<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>/GA nanocomposites polymer membranes were investigated by gel content, swelling capacity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle. The resulting PVA/5%SiO2/1%TiO<sub>2</sub>/GA nanocomposite exhibits much better physical properties than PVA/GA hydrogel (water absorbency from 3.1 g/g to 0.07 g/g and contact angel from 0° to 125°). In addition, the nanocomposite retains very low swelling properties. These prepared nanocomposites are promising in a variety of applications such as sand soil stabilizers, construction, and building works where they exhibit excellent water resistance performance. This study introduces a novel approach for creating hydrophobic polymeric membranes from hydrophilic polymeric materials to stabilize sandy soil effectively.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1664polyvinyl alcoholsilicon dioxidetitanium dioxidenanocompositeself-cleaningsoil stabilization
spellingShingle Rania F. Khedr
Mohamed Abd Elhady
Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
Molecules
polyvinyl alcohol
silicon dioxide
titanium dioxide
nanocomposite
self-cleaning
soil stabilization
title Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
title_full Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
title_fullStr Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
title_full_unstemmed Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
title_short Development the Hydrophobic Property of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Silicon Dioxide/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Self-Cleaning and Soil Stabilization
title_sort development the hydrophobic property of polyvinyl alcohol silicon dioxide titanium dioxide nanocomposites for self cleaning and soil stabilization
topic polyvinyl alcohol
silicon dioxide
titanium dioxide
nanocomposite
self-cleaning
soil stabilization
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1664
work_keys_str_mv AT raniafkhedr developmentthehydrophobicpropertyofpolyvinylalcoholsilicondioxidetitaniumdioxidenanocompositesforselfcleaningandsoilstabilization
AT mohamedabdelhady developmentthehydrophobicpropertyofpolyvinylalcoholsilicondioxidetitaniumdioxidenanocompositesforselfcleaningandsoilstabilization