Publications
Incorporation of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NP)s within the poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVP–PVA) blend can improve its characteristics. Initially, the bio-compatible vitamin B1 (VB1) was used for tailoring the surface of NPs and preventing them from aggregation. After that, the nanocomposite (NC) films of PVP–PVA combined with equal proportions were prepared by inserting various amounts of the modified SiO2 (SiO2-VB1). Uniform dispersal of the SiO2-VB1 inside the polymer was verified by means of microscopic observations. Optical as well as thermal characteristics revealed improvement after addition of the SiO2-VB1. Also, the NC with higher SiO2-VB1 content showed lower contact angle. This proposes the role of SiO2-VB1 NPs as a suitable filler to increase the wettability of the PVP–PVA blend.