Mechanically Induced Composites of Gelatin/Polyacrylamide and Gelatin/Polyvinyl Alcohol

Mechanochemical treatment of air-dried mixtures composed of polyvinyl alcohol (or polyacrylamide) and food-grade gelatin at various mass ratios is carried out in a vibrating cup sample grinder for 1, 3, and 5 min. As a result, gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin/polyacrylamide composites are obtained. The structure, morphology, and optical and rheological properties are studied using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron and optical microscopy, gravimetry, viscometry, and turbidity spectroscopy. It is found that mechanical activation promotes noncovalent interactions between components and the formation of a new system of hydrogen bonds, leading to changes in the microstructure of powders and in the viscosity of aqueous solutions. It is shown that mechanochemical activation of gelatin with polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol is a promising method for producing film composites with a wide range of applications, including the pharmaceutical and medical fields.