A study of cryostructuring of polymer systems. 45. Effect of porosity of dispersed filler on physicochemical characteristics of composite poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels

Composite cryogels simulating the properties of waterproof screens of hydraulic structures, such as protruding dykes and dams, have been obtained by a cryogenic treatment (freezing at –10…–30°C followed by incubation in the frozen state for 12 h and defrosting at a rate of 0.03°C/min) of suspensions of calcium-carbonate-containing (marble or coquina) or cellulose-containing (microcrystalline cellulose or sawdust) particles in aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions. Viscometric examinations of initial suspensions have shown that adhesion contacts arise between filler particles, as well as discrete and continuous phases, already at the stage of suspension preparation, thereby affecting the properties of resulting cryogels. This is most pronounced when high-porosity sawdust is used as a filler. It has been shown that all the dispersed materials used in the work are “active” fillers for poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels, these fillers increasing the rigidity of the formed composites. Therewith, porous particles, into which the polymer solution can penetrate, are more efficient. The dependence of the composite rigidity on the temperature of the cryogenic treatment has, as a rule, a bell-shaped pattern with a maximum in the region of –20°C. Being tested for water permeability, the obtained model composite cryogels have exhibited pronounced antifiltration properties (the filtration coefficient is ≤(1–2) × 10–9 cm/s), thus indicating that such materials are promising for solving problems relevant to the protection of fascine hydraulic structures from erosion with snow water.