Singh, V.K.Jain, Naman2019-01-312019-01-312018-09http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810093154Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic, semi-crystalline, biodegradable and water soluble polymer having moderate mechanical properties.The aim of thesis is to improve moisture absorption, solubility, mechanical properties and thermal stability of PVA by blending it with different polymers. In addition, thermal cross-linking of the films has been studied by heating the films at 120ºC for 4 h. PVA was found to be completely soluble in water, while post blending solubility and moisture absorption of blended films is decreased. For Restriction of water absorption of PVA chemical cross-linking with hydrochloric acid (HCl) is done which is confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Results suggest that due to the formation of cross-linked bonds thermal and mechanical properties of PVA based cross-linked compositeare improved as compared to pristine PVA due to which degradation temperature is increased as compared to neat PVA. The tensile strength of blended and cross-linked films was significantly higher as compared to neat PVA.Further improvement in physical, mechanical and thermal properties of cross-linked films is achieved by reinforcing nano-basalt fibers which result in 79.4% increased in UTS of PVA based cross-linked films. DMA analysis of blending and crosslinking films has been studied to determine the storage modulus, glass transition temperature and activation energy. Creep and recovery behavior were also examined to study the effect of stress and temperature on creep strain and burger model is used to study the creep data.ennullThesis