Rheological behavior of starch-poly(vinyl alcohol)-TiO2 nanofluids and their main and interactive effects

ABSTRACT In this study, an investigation of the rheological behavior of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/titanium oxide (TiO2) nanofluids was performed. It revealed that the rheological behavior of starch suspensions displays a particular change due to the presence of PVA and TiO2. All examined fluids demonstrated non‐Newtonian behavior and followed the Power law model. The main and interacting effects of starch, PVA, and TiO2 nanoparticles concentrations were studied using the analysis of variance. The results indicated that the flow behavior index (n), as well as the consistency index (K) of suspensions, is influenced by the PVA and TiO2 contents. The flow behavior index (n) decreased and consistency index (K) increased by an increase in PVA concentration. A reverse trend is observed by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to starch and PVA blend suspensions. The difference in rheological behaviors was ascribed to the presence of binary and triplet interactions between starch, PVA, and TiO2 nanoparticles. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44062.