Annealing and ZnO Doping Effects on Hydrophilicity and Mechanical Strength of PVDF Nanocomposite Thin Films

Abstract

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based nanocomposite thin films for water filtration devices, sensors and actuators, and biomedical applications were prepared using phase inversion technique. The main aim of this research work is to analyze the effects of annealing temperatures on hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and elongation at break of the zinc oxide (ZnO) modified PVDF nanocomposite thin films. Thermal treatment of annealing across broad ranges is the responsible for the molecular structure orientation and formation of beta phase in the PVDF nanocomposites. Also crosslinking between the polymer molecules is occurred due to the effect of thermal conditioning. Finally, this recrystallization of the polymer molecules is shown the enhancement in the hydrophilic nature (53.7°) for 4 wt% ZnO at 160 °C, tensile strength (3.42 MPa), and elongation at break (105.46%) for 1 wt% ZnO at 130 °C condition conditioned PVDF nanocomposite thin films.