Synergistic Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hybrid Polyvinyl Chloride Composites Modified with Polyvinyl Acetate, Epoxidized Soybean Oil and Graphene Oxide

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites modified with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), and graphene oxide (GO) were developed to investigate the synergistic effects of hybrid modification on mechanical and thermal properties. The composites were prepared using melt mixing followed by compression moulding. Tensile properties were evaluated in accordance with ASTM D638 standards, while thermal stability was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Statistical analysis was performed using mean ± standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and one-way ANOVA analysis showed statistically significant differences among tensile strength values of the modified composites (F = 16.97, p < 0.05). Neat PVC exhibited a tensile strength of 44.29 ± 0.52 MPa, while PVC/ESO₂ recorded the highest tensile strength of 89.23 ± 4.33 MPa. Hybrid formulations demonstrated improved mechanical performance, with PVC/H1 exhibiting balanced tensile strength (76.09 ± 4.90 MPa) and elongation (12.45 ± 1.16%). Thermal analysis confirmed enhanced stability in modified systems compared to neat PVC. The results demonstrate that hybrid modification significantly improves mechanical and thermal performance of PVC composites, indicating their suitability for advanced engineering applications.