Preparation and Properties of Liquefied Banana Pseudo-stem based PVAc Membrane

Abstract

A series of novel membrane materials were prepared based on liquefied banana pseudo-stem (LBPS) blended with various proportions of polyvinyl acetate emulsion (PVAc). The mechanical properties, structure, thermal stability, and cross-sectional morphologies were investigated using a universal testing machine, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The addition of LBPS to PVAc led to a structural change, and this change depended on the reaction temperature. The enhancement of elongation and the thermostability of membranes is attributed to an increase in C-O-C groups. Furthermore, the LBPS/PVAc membranes have a higher water resistance.

Keywords

• Polymer membranes
• Polyvinyl acetate
• Banana pseudo-stem
• Liquefaction