X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES OF BOND STRUCTURE BETWEEN POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL AND A TITANATE CROSS-COUPLING AGENT

Chemical interactions between polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and triethanol a mine titanate chelate were studied using x-ray photoelectron spectrosc opy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The titanate chelate cross coupled the PVA solution and produced a viscous gel. The gel ha d a three-dimensional network structure containing -C-PVA-O-Ti-O-C-PVA - organic complexes. A new C(1s) signature at 285.7 eV and an O(1s) si gnature at 531.25 eV were associated with the formation of these compl exes. The water of the PVA solution was physically retained in the gel led structure and was readily available for chemical reactions. The re moval of this entrapped water was irreversible and led to a collapsed film of Ti-cross-linked PVA.