Polyvinyl alcohol composite gel membrane modified by natural polysaccharide and waterborne polyurethane

A new composite gel material was obtained by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution with sodium alginate (SA), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na), waterborne polyurethane (WPU), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) were doped as an antibacterial agent. The liquid composite could to form a transparent protective gel membrane. The microstructure of the gel membrane was observed via scanning electron microscopy, and the intermolecular interaction was investigated by total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The results demonstrated a homogeneous phase and significant hydrogen bonding between chain segments. The best results indicated that the equilibrium swelling rate increased from 147% to 170%, the 3-h water vapor transmission rate increased from 279.41 g/m2 & BULL;day to 374.75 g/m2 & BULL;day, and the water contact angle increased from 16.8 & DEG; to 60.7 & DEG;, relative to the PVA substrate. The properties of this composite gel material suggest possible biomedical usage, particularly in skin and wound protection scenarios.HighlightsA novel gel film-forming material consisting of a viscous liquid is prepared.Adding polysaccharides modifiers resulted in significant improvements of the performance.The bacteriostatic and antihemorrhagic properties are introduced to the material.Low-irritating materials were used to prepare the gel material. A new gel material consisting of a viscous liquid is prepared, which can be coated on the surface of an object to form a transparent gel film by the evaporation of the solvent. Using SA and CMC-Na as modifiers of PVA substrate resulted in significant improvements of the tensile strength, the elongation at break, the swelling property, and the water vapor transmission rate of the material.image