Preparation and characterization of alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend fibers

Alginate and poly(vinyl alcohol) blend fibers were prepared by spinning their solution through a viscose-type spinneret into a coagulating bath containing aqueous CaCl2 and ethanol. The structure and properties of the blend fibers were studied with the aid of infrared spectra (IR), scanning electron micrography (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties and waterretention properties were measured. The best values of the tensile strength of blend fibers, 13.57 cN/tex in the dry state and 3.02 cN/tex in the wet state, respectively, were obtained when the polyvinyl alcohol) content was 10wt%. The breaking elongation and water-retention values (WRV) of blend fibers increase as the amount of polyvinyl alcohol) is raised. Structure analysis indicated that there was strong interaction and a certain level of miscibility between the alginate and poly(vinyl alcohol) molecules.