Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by citrate reduction method in the presence of polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan, used as stabilizing agents, and an oxidoreductase enzyme, laccase (Lac), with the goal of expanding the NPs antimicrobial action. AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and transmission elec...

Electrospun nanofibers of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PV) were obtained to improve dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) within hydrophobic biopolymeric matrices, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Electrospun nanofibers (PV/CNC)n were successfully obtained with a final concentration of 23% (w/w) of CNC. Morphological, structural and thermal properties of developed CNC and electrospun nanofibers w...

The utility of polymer-metal nanocomposite thin films with in situ generated silver nanoparticles as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is demonstrated. Thin films of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) containing Ag nanoparticles generated in situ through thermal annealing and photoirradiation, respectively (Ag-PVA and Ag-PVVV), ar...

The combination of Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) with nanoclay has wide commercial applications (such as packaging films and cables), which depend on the vinyl acetate contained in the main chain. As the vinyl acetate content increases, the copolymer presents less crystallinity and different mechanical behavior. EVA with 40 wt% vinyl acetate content (EVA40)/ organoclay nanocomposites w...

In previous part of this work factors influencing the thermal stability of polymer nanocomposite materials were indicated, such as chemical constitution of organic modifier, filler content, nanocomposites’ structure and the processing-dependent degree of homogenization of nanofiller, were presented. In this part the basic changes in thermal behaviour of different polymeric matrixes (e.g. polyol...

New monolithic nanocomposite silica biomaterials were synthesized on the basis of various natural polysaccharides and recently introduced completely water-soluble precursor tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl) orthosilicate. The sol-gel processes were performed in aqueous solutions without the addition of organic solvents and catalysts. The silica polymerization was promoted by the polysaccharides through ...