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Polymers are extensively used in medical devices. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a hydrophilic polymer, is one of the polymers used for various biomedical applications. The simple chemical structure and high hydroxyl group contents provide PVA-based materials with many desired properties. Various factors control the mechanical and electrical properties of PVA to produce a PVA-based material with consistent, repeatable properties for medical device applications. They can be sensitive to ionizing radiations. In this work, nanopolymer film samples were prepared from PVA and Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. The samples were subjected to neutron irradiation in the Nigeria Research Reactor (NIRR-1) at different doses. The mechanical and electrical properties of the irradiated nanocomposite were studied. The result revealed that the nanoparticles enhanced the mechanical strength of the polymer. Neutron irradiation also caused a significant increase in the mechanical strength due to cross-linking. The aging due to neutron irradiation, however, produces ionic radicals in the nanopolymer. The ionic radicals lead to an increase in electrical conductivity. There was also an observed increase in the charge storage capability of the samples. A PVA with improved mechanical, charge storage, and electrical conductivity will find use as an electroactive polymer and other applications.
