Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of polyvinyl alcohol/curdlan composite hydrogels and aerogels via freeze-casting technique

Abstract

This study introduces a novel approach to fabricating polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/curdlan (CURD) composite aerogels by employing the freeze-casting technique to achieve exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. Our research demonstrated that the formation of dual-network structure that combines the mechanical strength of PVA with the thermal stability of CURD. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a unique honeycomb-like cross-sectional morphology in the PVA/CURD aerogels. Notably, the PVA/CURD composite hydrogel demonstrated consistent compressive stress performance even after 50 compression cycles and exhibited minimal swelling (only 4 %) when immersed in distilled water for 24 h. Furthermore, the aerogels exhibited varying swelling ratios in different pH environments, with a significant increase observed in acidic conditions. Thermal analysis confirmed the enhanced thermal stability of the composite aerogels, attributed to the incorporation of CURD. These findings suggest that PVA/CURD composite aerogels have promising applications in fields that require materials with robust mechanical and thermal endurance.