Cotton-woven fabric-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogel composite was produced by constructing cotton as warp and polyvinyl alcohol/cotton hybrid and polyvinyl alcohol yarns as weft yarns in the fabric structure. As-prepared polyvinyl alcohol/cotton fabrics were treated with different concentrations of aqueous borax and glutaraldehyde crosslinking solutions. Polyvinyl alcohol molecules were transformed to crosslinked gel structure after the treatments. Since cotton yarns kept their yarn structure in the fabrics, woven fabric-reinforced hydrogel composites were obtained. Chemical analysis to investigate crosslinking was conducted by attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra analysis, and the results revealed that a proper crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol molecules in polyvinyl alcohol yarns occurred by using both borax and glutaraldehyde as crosslinkers. Thermal stabilities of the samples were observed via thermogravimetric analysis measurements. Even though borax crosslinking increased the thermal stability, glutaraldehyde crosslinking did not have a significant effect on the thermal stability of hydrogel composite. Crystalline microstructural analysis was carried out with X-ray diffraction measurement. Tensile properties of the samples by focusing on the crosslinker ratio and water contents in the hydrogel composites were performed. The results revealed that tensile properties of hydrogel composite tremendously increased with fabric reinforcement. Also, breaking force gradually increased when the hydrogel composite structure released the water from its structure at both borax and glutaraldehyde samples. Since the produced fabric-reinforced hydrogel composites have high strength, they are promising candidates as hygroscopic materials for planting and erosion control at inclined terrains.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cotton (Co) woven fabrics were produced by constructing Co as warp yarns and PVA as weft yarns in the fabric structure. As-prepared PVA/Co fabrics were treated with borax/water solution. Because of the simultaneous dissolution and gelation of PVA yarn in the fabric and transformation of PVA molecules into cross-linked gel structures, gel penetrated among the yarns in the matrix form and hence Co yarn-reinforced composite hydrogels were obtained. The retention time of water by composite hydrogels was first increased and then decreased by increasing borax concentration in the cross-linker solution. With yarn reinforcing, the tensile strength of hydrogel structure significantly increased. Mechanical properties of hydrogel composites were very variable depending on water content in the structure and tensile strength tremendously increased when water evaporated from the structure. Thermal and chemical characterizations of yarn-reinforced hydrogel composites were conducted in addition to swelling and mechanical analysis to investigate the performance of the hydrogel composites.
One-step and rapid preparation of natural fiber woven fabric reinforced hydrogel composites via simultaneous dissolution and crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) yarns in the fabric was reported. In this regards, PVA/Cotton (C), PVA/Flax (F) and PVA/Wool (W) blended woven fabrics were prepared for the manufacturing fabric reinforced hydrogel composites. The hybrid woven fabric reinforced fabrics were treated with different concentrations of borax solutions. Aqueous borax solutions were used to alter the PVA yarns in the fabric into cross-linked structure in order to enhance mechanical performance of the hydrogel composite. Morphological investigation of hydrogel composites in a dried form was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The chemical characterization of aqueous borax treated samples was examined by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. Mechanical performances of the hydrogel composites were observed by tensile measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted to characterize thermal stability of hydrogel composites. The results revealed that natural fiber woven fabric reinforcement significantly enhanced the mechanical strength of hydrogel composites, and wool fabric reinforced composite had better mechanical performance than its cotton and flax counterparts. Due to the low mechanical properties of hydrogels in general, the prepared fabric reinforced hydrogel composites could be used in hydrogel applications where mechanical strength is critically important.
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