Hybrid Ni‐Al layered double hydroxide/graphene reinforced polyvinyl alcohol/starch blends

Abstract Ni‐Al layered double hydroxide/graphene hybrid fillers were prepared via co‐precipitation method. The structural and thermal studies of these fillers were conducted using X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Subsequently, by using solution casting method, these fillers were introduced into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/starch matrix as reinforcing agent. For the composites, characteristic peaks of Ni‐Al‐LDH/graphene disappeared irrespective of filler content. TGA showed an increase in the initial degradation temperature (234‐242 °C) when filler content was increased from 0 to 2 wt%. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis exhibited an increase in heat of fusion (ΔH_m), melting temperature (T_m) and percentage crystallinity values for the PVA/ starch matrix having 1 wt% of filler. Similar trend was observed for tensile strength and Young's modulus of composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a homogeneous distribution of filler throughout the matrix.