Effect of Y-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) and Tetraethoxysilane(TEOS) Towards Preparation of Oil Absorbent Foams from Polyvinyl Alcohol(PVA) Reinforced with Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC)

Increasing usage of foams in various industry sectors had causing serious disposal problems once it reaches the end of its life-cycle. Herein, PVA-MFC foam was prepared by freeze-drying using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) as a reinforced material from sugarcane bagasse (SCB). In this study, the PVA-MFC foam was chemically silylated with Y-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The wetting ability and mechanical strength of the silylated (2,20)PVA-MFC foam was greatly enhanced compared with unmodified (2,20)PVA-MFC foam. The silane chemicals (MPS and TEOS) had been confirmed grafted on (2,20)PVA-MFC foam due to the presence of Si-C and Si-O-C stretching vibration as showed in Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra and cloud-like coating of porous pore was observed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The silylated (2,20)PVA-MFC foam (MPS and TEOS) exhibited a series of desirable properties such as lower swelling ratio and high absorption capacity of solvents and oils but had low thermal stability in thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The characterization of (2,20)PVA-MFC foam using TEOS was further investigated. A significant difference in morphology was clearly observed between the unmodified and silylated (2,20)PVA-MFC-TEOS foam through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. The X-ray photoelectron (XPS) analysis of silylated (2,20)PVA-MFC-TEOS foam confirmed the presence of C, O and trace amount of Si elements. These synthesized (2,20)PVA-MFC foam could be a promising material for broad range of polymer foam applications.