Interaction between the Components in PVA and Zeolite Y Composite

Abstract

A fine particle of zeolite Y was synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of poly (vinyl alcohol)(PVA) to prepare the zeolite-PVA composite. Studies on the morphological structure of the composite and the interaction forces arising between the two components were carried out by using SEM, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and BET methods. No extractable homopolymer was found by a repeated extracting with water from the zeolite composites consisting of the polymer in the concentration range from 8 to 26%, but from the 32% polymer content composite, an extractable homopolymer amounting to 4% of the total amount of polymer added to the initial reacting system was also found. The specific surface area and the pore volume of zeolite-PVA composites were significantly decreased with increase of the polymer content. The decreased amounts of both values reached to about 42% at the polymer content of 26%. A similar behavior was also observed even for the blend materials of zeolite and PVA, but only 24% of micropore in the intact zeolite was shielded at the same concentration of the component as described in the above composite. Results obtained by SEM and difference spectrum of FT-IR spectra of the respective components showed that in the composites polymer chains dispersed molecularly in part and hydrogen bonds formed between crystal surface of zeolite and hydroxyl groups of polymer, and further that in blends both of a phase separated polymer and a hydrogen bonded and stabilized polymer on zeolite surface were involved. A structure model of zeolite-PVA composite was proposed and the relationship between the stability of polymer chains in composite and the ratio of the length of polymer chains, L to the thickness of polymer phase on the surface of zeolite particles, e_p has been discussed.