Effect of nano-SiO2 on the compatibility of PVA/RSF blend

A series of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/regenerated silk fibroin (RSF)/nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO₂) blend films were prepared by solution casting method, in which nano-SiO₂ was obtained via sol?Cgel process. The structure, properties, and morphology of the films related to the compatibility were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD peaks of PVA/RSF/nano-SiO₂ (1.0?wt?%) blends decreased in intensity indicated that formation of PVA and RSF crystal lattices was hindered by nano-SiO₂ particles. FTIR spectroscopy analysis of PVA/RSF/nano-SiO₂ films confirmed that both Si?CO?CC linkage and hydrogen bonding were formed among PVA, RSF, and nano-SiO₂. SEM showed that there was no obvious phase separation in PVA/RSF/nano-SiO₂ (1.0?wt?%) film although small uniform blur particles can still be found. In addition, TEM showed nano-particles were well dispersed through the PVA/RSF polymer matrix. Besides, the observed shift in glass transition temperatures (T _g) and improvement in thermal properties of composite films suggested the enhanced compatibility due to interfacial bonding and intermolecular interactions. Therefore, these results indicated that the compatibility of PVA/RSF was improved effectively by the addition of nano-SiO₂.