Structure and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/kappa-carrageenan blends

Blends of a commercial atactic poly(vinyl alcohol) (alpha -PVA) derived fro m vinyl acetate and kappa -carrageenan were prepared by mixing the aqueous solutions of both samples. Blend films prepared by casting were transparent . In the DSC curves of the blend films, the endothermic peaks shifted to lo wer temperature with an increase of the content of kappa -carrageenan. The Young's modulus and the strength at break increased with an increase of the content of alpha -PVA. As the standing temperature of the blend solutions decreased, the gelation region increased also at high content of carrageena n. In the amorphous regions of blend films, alpha -PVA and kappa -carrageen an were miscible. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.