Fabrication and properties of keratoses/polyvinyl alcohol blend films

Blend films of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and keratoses (KOx) were prepared using water as a common solvent. Aqueous solution of KOx from wool was extracted via oxidation using peracetic acid, and different amounts of PVA were added and blended to obtain films by solution casting method. Blend films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and tensile measurement. The scanning electron microscopy investigation showed that with decreasing PVA amount, film surface becomes rough and uneven. Thermal behavior and Fourier transform infrared analysis pointed that the two polymers have no covalent interaction each other. Also, it is to be noted that increasing the amount of PVA in the blend from 70 to 100% improved the tensile strength of blend films, and the elongation at break increases dramatically in films containing 70–100% of PVA. Moreover, blends containing 90 and 100% of KOx were too brittle for films production.