Properties of poly(vinyl butyral)/TiO2 nanocomposites formed by sol–gel process

Abstract Nanocomposites of poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) and titanium oxide (TiO2) were prepared by the sol–gel process and their properties were examined. Pure PVB became stiff and brittle by the addition of TiO2 (the Young's modulus increased from 0.95 for pure PVB to 2.25 GPa for the nanocomposite containing TiO2 15 wt%). The thermal and abrasion resistance were also improved. The solubility and the degree of swelling in ethanol became drastically lower by mixing a small amount of TiO2. The nanocomposite containing TiO2 5 wt% showed the ethanol permselectivity.