Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polycarbonate blend-based nanocomposites with enhanced rigidity — Selective localization of carbon nanofillers and organoclay

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene nanoplatelet (GnP) and organo-montmorillonite (15 A) individually and simultaneously served as reinforcing fillers to prepare poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/polycarbonate (PC) blend-based multicomponent nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results confirmed the selective localization of individual and hybrid fillers within the PC domains. Some 15 A was located at the interface of PVDF/PC phases to modify the blend morphology. Addition of CNT led to the development of a quasi co-continuous PVDF-PC morphology. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that 15 A, not CNT/GnP, facilitated PVDF crystallization in the composites. Among the fillers, 15 A alone induced β-form PVDF crystals, as revealed by the X-ray diffraction results, and consequently caused the complex crystallization and melting of PVDF. The rigidity (Young's and flexural moduli) of the PVDF/PC blend increased after the formation of various blend-based nanocomposites. The hybrid filler of CNT/15 A increased the Young's modulus by approximately 90% compared with that of the blend. Rheological property measurements confirmed the formation of a pseudo-network structure in the composites. Adding CNT increased the complex viscosity of the samples to a higher extent than did adding GnP, and the viscosity further increased with the co-existence of carbon nanofiller(s) and 15 A.