Evident improvements in the rigidity, toughness, and electrical conductivity of PVDF/HDPE blend with selectively localized carbon nanotube

Abstract

In this work, carbon nanotube (CNT) was used to fabricate poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blend-based nanocomposites via a Haake mixer. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the CNT was mainly selectively located in the HDPE dispersed domains. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that CNT addition improved the thermal stability of the blend (up to 61 °C increase at 3-phr CNT loading at 40 wt% loss) in air environment. Differential scanning calorimetry results revealed the enhanced nucleation of individual PVDF and HDPE upon crystallization in the composites; the presence of CNT inceased the stability of PVDF crystals. CNT addition increased the heat distortion temperature of the blend by up to 27 °C at 3-phr CNT loading. The complex viscosity and storage modulus increased due to the CNT pseudo-network formation in the reduce-sized HDPE phase of the composites. The rigidity of the blend was significantly improved after the addition of CNT. The impact strength of the blend increased by up to 66% after 2-phr CNT loading, and the electrical resistivity of the blend decreased by up to nine orders at 3-phr CNT loading due to the double percolation-like morphology formation.