Structure at Interphase of Poly(vinyl alcohol)–SiC Nanofiber Composite and Its Impact on Mechanical Properties: Positron Annihilation and Small-Angle X‑ray Scattering Studies

The interphase structure of poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–SiC nanofiber polymer nanocomposites has been investigated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The interphase region in polymer nanocomposites extends from nanofillers’ surface to bulk polymer matrix. PVA–SiC nanocomposite films with varying concentration of SiC nanofiber (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 wt %) were prepared using solvent casting method. PALS studies indicated the rearrangement of hydrogen bonded structure of PVA and the creation of an interphase layer with larger size nanoholes. SAXS measurements also confirmed the modification of semicrystalline structure of PVA through lamellae structure parameters. The crystallinity of the nanocomposite films have been determined using X-ray diffraction. The observed changes in the polymer nanocomposite structure are resultant of weak interaction between hydrophilic PVA and hydrophobic SiC nanofiber. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites measured, using tensile testing method, have been explained in view of the changes in structure at interphase.