Rheological behavior of starch–poly(vinyl alcohol)–TiO₂ nanofluids and their main and interactive effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, an investigation of the rheological behavior of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) nanofluids was performed. It revealed that the rheological behavior of starch suspensions displays a particular change due to the presence of PVA and TiO 2 . All examined fluids demonstrated non‐Newtonian behavior and followed the Power law model. The main and interacting effects of starch, PVA, and TiO 2 nanoparticles concentrations were studied using the analysis of variance. The results indicated that the flow behavior index ( n ), as well as the consistency index ( K ) of suspensions, is influenced by the PVA and TiO 2 contents. The flow behavior index ( n ) decreased and consistency index ( K ) increased by an increase in PVA concentration. A reverse trend is observed by the addition of TiO 2 nanoparticles to starch and PVA blend suspensions. The difference in rheological behaviors was ascribed to the presence of binary and triplet interactions between starch, PVA, and TiO 2 nanoparticles. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 44062.