Structure of oriented fibers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) modified by detonation nanodiamonds

A comparative study of the structure and mechanical and thermal characteristics of nanocomposite oriented fibers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) impregnated with the nanodiamonds prepared by detonation synthesis and fibers based on the initial unmodified polymer has been performed. The conditions and regimes of gel spinning of the nanocomposite fibers containing highly dispersed nanosized filler without its aggregation are defined. The introduction of nanosized filler particles up to 7 vol % is found to entail no marked changes in the temperature intervals of glass transition and melting in the corresponding DSC thermograms. In this case, the amorphous-crystalline structure of the matrix polymer likewise remains practically unchanged. Under the selected conditions of gel spinning, the resultant nanocomposite fibers with comparable draw ratios are characterized by a higher longitudinal elastic modulus, close values of breaking strength, and lower values of elongation at break as compared with those observed for the fibers based on the initial unmodified polymer. The nanomodified fibers show promise as reinforcing elements in construction materials for various purposes.