Gamma radiation effect on the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of PCL/MCM-48-PVA nanocomposite films

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 9; no. 7; p. e18091
• Main Authors: Vinícius da Silva Paula, Marcos, Araújo de Azevedo, Leandro, Diego de Lima Silva, Ivo, Brito da Silva, Carlos Alberto, Vinhas, Glória Maria, Alves, Severino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical properties; Gamma radiation; MCM-48-M; Nanocomposite (NC) films; poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA); Polycaprolactone (PCL); Nanocomposite (NC) films; MCM-48-M; Gamma radiation; Chemical properties; Polycaprolactone (PCL); poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18091

In this work, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was employed to produce a Mesoporous Composition of Matter-48 Modified (MCM-48-M or MCM-48-PVA). After surface modification, MCM-48-M was used to produce nanocomposite (NC) films with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a matrix at room temperature. PCL and MCM-48 nanoparticles (NPs) were chosen due to their great biocompatibility and low toxicity. However, MCM-48-M is more compatible with PCL than MCM-48. NC films were sterilized by gamma radiation with a dose of 25 kGy and characterized by experimental techniques to investigate their chemical, mechanical (tensile) and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) results indicated that MCM-48-M exhibited a random distribution in the PCL matrix. The PCL chemical structure was preserved in NC films as described by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as well as the tensile and thermal properties of NC films. FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed surface modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that crystalline symmetries were preserved and the crystallinity of NC films had small variations in all samples before and after irradiation, respectively. But, our results did not indicate major changes showing that this method is successful for the sterilization of PCL/MCM-48-PVA NC films. •The surface of the MCM-48 was modified with PVA.•The chemical structure of PCL was preserved in NC films irradiated at 25 kGy.•The thermal and mechanical properties of PCL/MCM-48-PVA NC films did not indicate major changes after exposure to 25 kGy.•The experimental techniques for sterilizing these types of materials proved to be adequate.