Polycarbonate Nanocomposites Research Articles

Tailoring the Optical and Color Properties of Gamma Irradiated Polycarbonate/Cerium Oxide Nanocomposite Films for Their Application in Optoelectronic Devices

Nanocomposites (NC) of amorphous polycarbonate (PC) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared. The synthesized CeO2 had a nanonature of average particle size 22 nm, as indicated from their high resolution transmission electron microscopy images (HTEM). Samples of the PC/CeO2 NC films were irradiated with several γ ray doses (10-80 kGy). The resultant outcome of the γ irradiation on the optical properties of the NC films was studied using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis). Upon raising the γ ray dose up to 80 kGy, the maximum dose used, the direct bandgap decreased from 4.92 to 3.91 eV. The Urbach energy showed an opposite trend; it increased from 0.46 to 0.92 eV. This could be attributed to the domination of chain crosslinks. Also, the optical dielectric loss (ε”) assisted in identifying the nature of the microelectronic transitions. It was found that the PC/CeO2 NC films had direct allowed transitions. Additionally, the γ induced changes in the optical conductivity were studied. Moreover, the optical color changes between the pristine and the irradiated films were evaluated. The pristine NC film was uncolored. It showed significant color changes when irradiated with γ radiation up to 80 kGy. The induced modifications in the optical properties suggest that the γ radiation is an effective means for modifying the properties that allows the use of PC/CeO2 NC in optoelectronic devices.

Optical and Color Modification in Polycarbonate/Polybutylene Terephthalate/Zinc sulfide-Nickel Oxide Nanocomposite Films due to Gamma Irradiation

Nanocomposites (NC) of amorphous polycarbonate (PC), semicrystalline polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), zinc sulfide (ZnS) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized. We believe that this study is novel in the area of the effect of γ radiation on such NC. Both the synthesized NiO and ZnS had a nanonature of average particle size 4 and 18 nm, respectively, as indicated from the Rietveld refinement of the XRD records. Samples of the PC-PBT/ZnS-NiO NC films were irradiated with several γ doses (10–140 J/cm2). The resultant outcome of the γ irradiation on the optical behavior of the NC films was studied applying ultraviolet spectroscopy (UVs). Upon raising the dose up to 140 kGy, the direct bandgap decreased from 4.11 to 3.6 eV. The Urbach energy showed an opposite tendency; it increased from 0.61 to 0.95 eV. We attribute this to the dominance of chain crosslinks. Also, the optical dielectric loss (ε″) aided in detecting the nature of the microelectronic transitions. It was found that the PC-PBT/ZnS-NiO NC films had direct allowed transitions. Additionally, the γ induced alterations in the dielectric parameters and optical conductivity were studied. Moreover, the optical color changes between the pristine and the irradiated films were assessed. The pristine NC film was uncolored. It showed significant color alterations when irradiated with γ radiation up to 140 kGy. The induced enhancements in the optical properties suggest that the γ radiation is an effective means that allows the use of PC-PBT/ZnS-NiO NC in optoelectronic devices.

A comparative study of polycarbonate nanocomposites respectively containing graphene nanoplatelets, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers

In industrial settings, thermoplastics are frequently employed as the base materials for composites and often enhanced with micron-sized additives such as glass fibers for improved performance. This study employed twin-screw extrusion as the processing method to compound a common thermoplastic – polycarbonate (PC) with one dimensional (1D) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and two dimensional (2D) graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). In the PC matrix, GNPs were found to relatively uniformly dispersed, MWCNTs were seen to have two states of dispersion, and CNFs were much shortened with many defects caused by the extrusion. At 10.0 wt%, MWCNTs reduced the electrical resistivity of PC from 4.2 × 1015 to 4.6 × 107 Ω·cm, and GNPs improved the thermal conductivity from 0.13 to 0.38 W·m−1·K−1. GNPs, MWCNTs and CNFs at 1.0 wt% all improved the mechanical properties of PC, i.e. increments of 13.8%, 5.7% and 13.8% for Young's modulus, 6.2%, 11.7% and 21.2% for tensile strength, and 9.6%, 10.2% and 5.7% for impact strength. At 10.0 wt%, the PC/GNP nanocomposite displayed the least reduction of tensile strength of PC whilst the PC/CNF nanocomposite slightly increased the un-notched Charpy impact strength from 161 to 186 kJ/m2. The structure-property relationship of these nanocompsoites was analysed, with the relavent mechanisms proposed. Overall, twin-screw extrusion proved effective for dispersing various carbon nanomaterials in PC. This work provides a guide for industry to design and manufacture thermoplastic/carbon nanomaterial composites using the extrusion method.

Boron-doped copper phenylphosphate as temperature-response nanosheets to fabricate high fire-safety polycarbonate nanocomposites

The application of polymer materials has provided the convenience and also bring fire risk and hazard due to intrinsic flammable property of polymers. Here we demonstrate a novel strategy using boron-doped copper phenylphosphate (BCuPP) nanosheets with temperature-response characteristics as only flame retardant for creating high fire-safety polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites with excellent comprehensive performances. PC/BCuPP nanocomposites presents a good mechanical performance at room temperature due to the strong interfacial interaction between PC matrix and BCuPP nanosheets. Furthermore, BCuPP exhibits unique temperature-response behavior driven by fire, where fully molten boron oxide flows freely, followed by in-situ formed BPO4 to repair the defects to form a complete and continuous protective layer. So the temperature-response behavior endows PC/BCuPP nanocomposites excellent fire-safety performance with dramatical decrease in both heat release rate and total smoke production. This study offers a novel route only incorporating nanoparticles as flame retardant to create high fire-safety polymer nanocomposites.

Dielectric Response of Strontium Titanate (SrTiO3)/Polycarbonate Nanocomposite Electrodes for Energy Storage

In the present study we are reporting dielectric response of strontium titanate (SrTiO3 represented as ST used as filler in 1–5 mwt%)/polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites of thickness 100 μm synthesized by solution cast method. Polycarbonate serving as passive matrix element and ceramic strontium titanate (SrTiO3) dispersed into polycarbonate to improve effective dielectric response. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to investigate structural, bonding and morphological properties of fabricated nanocomposites respectively. Particular attention has been given on the examination of dielectric response for composites using Impedance analyzer. Dielectric constant has been found to be increased with increasing concentration of SrTiO3 inside the polycarbonate matrix. The observed dielectric constant reaches upto 6.61 for ST5%PC95% composite at 1 KHz. These composites of high dielectric constant can be used as high performance electrode materials for electrical energy storage devices.

Mild air oxidation of boron nitride nanotubes. Application as nanofillers for thermally conductive polycarbonate nanocomposites

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have experienced considerable growth in recent years due to their unique intrinsic properties, in particular for the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites. Dispersion of pure BNNTs in nanocomposites is often difficult due to their poor compatibility with most polymer matrices. An approach involving the creation of hydroxyl groups on their surface could improve their dispersion. While some harsh oxidation processes have been reported so far, a mild oxidation of BNNTs using air as the oxidant is reported here. This new catalytic reaction leads to slightly oxidized BNNTs, which were characterized by scanning electron microscope, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Polycarbonate nanocomposites were then fabricated using pristine and oxidized BNNTs as nanofillers. The measured thermal conductivity increased linearly with the mildly oxidized BNNTs content. It reached a five-fold increase up to 1.19 W m.K−1 at 15% vol. content which is significantly improved over nanocomposites fabricated with severely oxidized BNNTs, while the electrically insulating character remained unchanged.

Mechanical and thermal properties of graphene nanoplatelets-reinforced recycled polycarbonate composites

Nanocomposites have received significant interest in recent years, as they offer improved properties compared to conventional materials for various applications. Among many available nanofillers, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) have shown promising results for polymer-based nanocomposite applications. This paper investigates the mechanical and thermal properties of GNP-reinforced virgin and recycled polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites blended via a twin-screw extruder. Effects of various key processing parameters such as filler concentration, processing speed, barrel/die set temperature, and PC type (virgin and recycled) on the reinforced composites were examined. Mechanical properties were characterised by tensile testing, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterise the thermal properties. The results show that the processing speed and barrel/die set temperature have a slight influence, while the filler concentration significantly affects the properties of PC/GNPs composites. The Young's modulus and yield strength were enhanced with increasing GNP loading, where the maximum enhancement of Young's modulus was obtained as ∼33% for virgin-PC/GNP and ∼39.5% for recycled-PC/GNP composites at 10 wt.-% GNP loading. However, the failure strain was reduced with the increased GNP loading for both virgin and recycled PC/GNP composites. Embedding GNP into the PC matrix only slightly influenced the thermal stability and glassy transition temperature (Tg). The highest thermal stability for virgin PC/GNP composites was observed with 1 wt.-% (2.74% increase with respect to virgin PC), while for recycled PC/GNP, it was observed with 10 wt.-% (2.42% increase with respect to recycled PC) GNP loading. Under the same GNP loading, recycled PC-based composites showed lower thermal stability than virgin PC-based composites. The Tg evaluated from DSC showed a rise under 1 wt.-% GNP for virgin PC/GNP and decrease afterwards with higher filler loading, while an irregular variation for recycled PC/GNP was observed.

Preparation of Polycarbonate-ZnO Nanocomposite Films: Surface Investigation after UV Irradiation

Polycarbonate (PC)-ZnO films with different percentages of ZnO were prepared by a solution stirring technique and subjected to ultraviolet (UV; λ = 254 nm) irradiation. Structural parameters of the samples and the effects of UV irradiation on the surface properties of the PC and PC-ZnO nanocomposites were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and a Vickers microhardness (HV) tester. The XRD patterns of the nanocomposite films were found to show an increase in crystallinity with the increasing ZnO nanoparticles percentage. The WCA was found to be reduced from 90° to 17° after 15 h of UV irradiation, which could be ascribed to the oxidation of the surface of the samples during the irradiation and exposure of the ZnO nanoparticles, a result that is also supported by the obtained XPS data. The microhardness value of the PC-ZnO films including 30 wt.% ZnO enhanced considerably after UV radiation, which can also be attributed to the exposition of the ZnO nanoparticles after photodegradation of the PC superficial layer of the nanocomposite films.

High Performance Polycarbonate Nanocomposites Mechanically Boosted with Titanium Carbide in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing.

Herein, a polycarbonate (PC) polymer is melt extruded together with titanium carbide (TiC) nano powder for the development of advanced nanocomposite materials in material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing. Raw material for the 3D printing process was prepared in filament form with a thermomechanical extrusion process and specimens were built to be tested according to international standards. A thorough mechanical characterization testing course (tensile, flexural, impact, microhardness, and dynamic mechanical analysis-DMA) was conducted on the 3D printed specimens. The effect of the ceramic filler loading was also investigated. The nanocomposites’ thermal and stoichiometric properties were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman respectively. The specimens’ 3D printing morphology, quality, and fracture mechanism were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The results depicted that the addition of the filler decidedly enhances the mechanical response of the virgin polymer, without compromising properties such as its processability or its thermal stability. The highest improvement of 41.9% was reported for the 2 wt.% filler loading, making the nanocomposite suitable for applications requiring a high mechanical response in 3D printing, in which the matrix material cannot meet the design requirements.

Study the damping and vibrational properties of polycarbonate reinforced ZrO2

In this paper, the effect of nano zirconia particles on damping characteristics of polycarbonate composites was investigated experimentally. The nano particles were added to polycarbonate matrix with five different weight percentage (wt %). Polycarbonate Nanocomposites filled with pristine and modified ‎Zirconium dioxide were prepared by simple melt compounding. All samples ‎were prepared by an injection molding process. The samples were studied before and after damage. Damage process was done with high velocity impact. The half-power bandwidth method was used to experimentally estimate the damping ratio. The experiments were designed based on an impulse actuator signal generated by the ‎shaker, and the responses were recorded using accelerometer sensors. The results of experiments showed that the damping properties of the composite were increased by adding nanoparticles to 3 wt% and decreased gently for samples with the upper content of nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) pictures were used to investigate the distribution of nano zirconia on the polycarbonate matrix and showed a homogeneous mixture of nanocomposites and strong bonding between zirconia and polycarbonate that increased damping properties and decreased vibration. Finally, the experimental modal analysis test was done after high-velocity impact damage process to investigate the effect of defection on the nano polycarbonate composites. The results showed a great decline in vibration and an increase of damping properties.

Investigating the effects of alumina nanoparticles on the impact resistance of polycarbonate nano-composites

Investigating the effects of alumina nanoparticles on the impact resistance of polycarbonate nano-composites

Anomalous Terminal Shear Viscosity Behavior of Polycarbonate Nanocomposites Containing Grafted Nanosilica Particles.

Viscosity controls an important issue in polymer processing. This paper reports on the terminal viscosity behavior of a polymer melt containing grafted nanosilica particles. The melt viscosity behavior of the nanocomposites was found to depend on the interaction between the polymer matrix and the nanoparticle surface. In the case of polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites, the viscosity decreases by approximately 25% at concentrations below 0.7 vol% of nanosilica, followed by an increase at higher concentrations. Chemical analysis shows that the decrease in viscosity can be attributed to in situ grafting of PC on the nanosilica surface, leading to a lower entanglement density around the nanoparticle. The thickness of the graft layer was found to be of the order of the tube diameter, with the disentangled zone being approximately equal to the radius of gyration () polymer chain. Furthermore, it is shown that the grafting has an effect on the motion of the PC chains at all timescales. Finally, the viscosity behavior in the PC nanocomposites was found to be independent of the molar mass of PC. The PC data are compared with polystyrene nanocomposites, for which the interaction between the polymer and nanoparticles is absent. The results outlined in this paper can be utilized for applications with low shear processing conditions, e.g., rotomolding, 3D printing, and multilayer co-extrusion.

Effect of graphite flake and multi‐walled carbon nanotube on thermal, mechanical, electrical, and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of polycarbonate nanocomposite

AbstractThe current study reports the preparation of polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite using graphite flake (GF) and multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) at varying weight percentages (10%, 20%, and 30%) by the melt mixing technique. The impact of filler on the properties of thermal conductivity (TC), electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI), electrical, and mechanical of the nanocomposite were studied. The improvement in the thermal conductivity value of ˃150% was achieved at a loading of 30% of graphite flake and 20% multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The morphology of the composite studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), confirmed the dispersion of filler in the PC matrix. The electrical conductivity of both the optimized compositions achieved was in the order of 10−2 S/cm. Further, the EMI shielding of ∼35 and ∼32 dB was observed for graphite flake and MWCNT based composites, indicating the suitability of the developed system for various commercial applications.

Understanding the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of graphene reinforced polycarbonate nanocomposites using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations

Incorporating graphene nanosheets into a polymer matrix is a promising way to utilize the remarkable electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene. However, the underlying mechanisms near the graphene-polymer interface remain poorly understood. In this study, we employ coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the nanoscale mechanisms present in graphene-reinforced polycarbonate (GRPC) nanocomposites and the effect of those mechanisms on GRPC’s mechanical properties. With a mean-squared displacement analysis, we find that the polymer chains near the GRPC interface exhibit lower mobility than the chains further from the graphene sheet. We also show that the embedding of graphene increases Young’s modulus and yield strength of bulk PC. Through non-equilibrium MD simulations and a close look into the deformation mechanisms, we find that early strain localization arises in GRPC with voids being concentrated further away from the graphene sheet. These results indicate that graphene nanosheets promote the heterogeneous deformation of GRPC. Additionally, to gain deeper insight into the mechanical, interfacial, and viscoelastic properties of GRPC, we study the effects of varying PC chain lengths and interfacial interactions as well as the comparative performance of GRPC and PC under small amplitude oscillatory shear tests. We find that increasing the interfacial interaction leads to an increase in both storage and loss moduli, whereas varying chain length has minor influence on the dynamic modulus of GRPC. This study contributes to the fundamental understanding of the nanoscale failure mechanisms and structure–property relationships of graphene reinforced polymer nanocomposites.

Influence of CNT loading and environmental stressors on leaching of polymer-associated chemicals from epoxy and polycarbonate nanocomposites

Environmental context Carbon nanotubes are added to polymers such as polycarbonate and epoxy to form nanocomposites with enhanced material properties. Environmental factors including temperature, UV light exposure and pH have the potential to degrade these composites and increase the release of toxic polymer-associated chemicals. This study investigates how carbon nanotube loading decreases the release of known endocrine-disrupting compounds, bisphenol A and 4-tert-butylphenol, from polymer nanocomposites under simulated weathering environments. Abstract Nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes are increasingly added to polymer matrices to improve tensile strength and electrical and thermal conductivity, and to reduce gas permeability. During use and after disposal, these plastic nanocomposites (PNCs) are degraded into microplastics by physical and chemical processes including mechanical abrasion, UV light exposure, hydrolysis and oxidation. Such polymers have the potential to enter aquatic environments and release potentially hazardous polymer-associated chemicals and transformation products. This work identifies and quantifies polymer-associated chemicals leached from polymers and nanocomposites during simulated environmental exposure. Epoxy and polycarbonate PNCs containing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) loadings ranging from 0 to 1 wt-% were exposed to water for 5 days, and the release of the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-tert-butylphenol (TBP) was measured. The role of UV exposure, pH, temperature and natural organic matter in regulating chemical release was also investigated. Temperature, pH and UV light were found to be the most significant factors influencing release of TBP and BPA from PNCs. Additionally, increasing carbon nanotube loading in both polycarbonate and epoxy composites was found to decrease the release of these phenolic chemicals. A 0.3 % higher SWCNT loading decreased the release of BPA 45 ± 18 %, and a 1 % SWCNT loading decreased chemical release from epoxy by 48 ± 26 % for BPA and 58 ± 8 % for TBP. This information provides important data that can be used to help assess the risks posed by SWCNT polymer nanocomposites in aqueous environments, particularly as they age and are transformed.

Structure and mechanical properties of graphene oxide-reinforced polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (PC) was reinforced with pristine and chemically modified graphene oxide (GO) to assess its effect on the PC mechanical properties. Commercial graphene with oxygen contents of 4.7 at %, was used as reference to corroborate the affinity of a GO with oxygen content of 25.6 at. % with PC. GO was modified with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDAC). Commercial graphene, unmodified and modified GO were characterized by FTIR, Raman, XRD and XPS to determine the effects of their structure on the mechanical properties of the reinforced PC. The concentration of graphene oxides in the PC nanocomposites was 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 wt %. The nanocomposites were characterized by tensile and impact resistance tests as well as by TGA. The distribution of graphene oxides within the PC matrix was evaluated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Samples with unmodified GO and commercial graphene showed better dispersion into the polymer matrix than EDAC-modified GO. The unmodified GO increased show increased impact resistance with respect to PC as well as a 291% increment in the elongation at break, with an optimal content of 0.25 wt % of the filler. The EDAC-modified graphene oxide as well as commercial graphene did not increase the impact resistance at any used concentration. The structural and chemical analysis of the EDAC-GO indicate GO reduction during its modification, suggesting that the oxygen functional groups in pristine GO, particularly carboxyl moieties are the responsible for the dispersion and interactions with the polymer and the improvement in mechanical properties.

In situ synthesis and investigation poly (methyl methacrylate)/polycarbonate nanocomposites incorporated with copper oxide nanoparticles

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles have been synthesized using a simple chemical route. Nanocomposite samples (PMMA/PC-CuO) based on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) blend incorporated with low concentrations of synthesized CuO nanoparticles have been prepared. The X-ray spectra confirm that the obtained nanocomposites have a semicrystalline nature structure with monoclinic crystal structure form of CuO. The FT-IR spectra have been nearly similar behaviour. The morphology of the nanocomposites was studied by Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs. The UV–Vis spectrum of pure CuO nanoparticles shows the sharp absorption band at 203 nm in the UV region and weak band centered at 421 nm in the visible region. The dielectric permittivity (ε' and ε″), dielectric modulus (M′ and M″) and Cole-Cole diagram of the samples have been investigated. The values of both ε' and ε″ versus frequency are non-linearly decreased as the increase of frequency and temperature. The high values of ε' are founded with the lower frequencies and it gradually increased due to the high values of the dielectric permittivity of CuO nanoparticles. The behavior of both M′ and M″ versus Log f is plotted and investigated. The lower values of M′ are due to the dominant contribution of the interfacial polarization effect. The plot of the M″ with frequency has a single attributed to the cooperative chain segmental dynamics inside the samples. The Cole-Cole diagram between M′ versus M″ is characterized and studied.

Mechanical study and molecular dynamics simulation on polycarbonate nanocomposite with carbon black and SnO2

In this work, SnO2 and carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (NPs) were used to improve the physical and mechanical properties of polycarbonate films (PC) for industrial applications. Raman spectroscopy proved the successful inclusion of the fillers within the polymeric-based nanocomposites, with a suitable dispersion without changes in the structure and morphology of PC as denoted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). After doping of the PC-based nanocomposites with CB, SnO2 and CB/SnO2 NPs, both the polymer hardness and the elastic modulus of the composites were observed to increase, with the highest value achieved for PC/CB-doped ones. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DTG) indicated changes in the thermal properties of the polymer composites upon NP doping. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations were used to gain a better understanding about the interactions of PC and NPs in the nanocomposites. Simulation data obtained were in good agreement with experimental ones, which indicates that simulations can be an efficient toll in order to perform a preliminary high-throughput screening of diverse physico-chemical properties of polymeric-based nanocomposites bearing NP fillers before experimental development.

Striking effect of nanosized carbon black modified by grafting sodium sulfonate on improving the flame retardancy of polycarbonate

To improve the flame retardancy of polymer nanocomposites, a grafting strategy to modify carbon black nanoparticles by grafting sodium sulfonate (CB-g-SS) was developed in polycarbonate (PC) system. The grafting reaction for CB-g-SS was evaluated by FTIR, XPS and TGA, respectively. Furthermore, PC/CB-g-SS nanocomposites were prepared, and the striking effect of CB and SS on improving the flame retardancy of PC was investigated. With only 1 wt% of CB-g-SS, the PC nanocomposites exhibited a high limiting oxygen index of 33.1%, and V-0 rating in UL-94 test, as well as significant decrease on the peak of heat release rate (PHRR) by 51.6% in cone calorimeter test. The flame retardancy mechanism was also discussed, which was ascribed to the catalytic carbonization of SS on CB surfaces for promoting the formation of interconnected carbon layer. Thus, this work provides a useful and effective method for preparing high-performance PC nanocomposites.

Fullerene-induced crystallization toward improved mechanical properties of solvent casting polycarbonate films

This work provides a facile strategy to induce crystallization of polycarbonate (PC) through solvent casting method. Pristine fullerene (C60) and PC-modified C60 nanoparticles are applied as nucleating agents for PC, and the crystallization behavior of PC nanocomposite films is controlled by solvent casting preparation conditions. To investigate the relationship between crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of PC nanocomposite films, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscope and tensile tests are carried out. Pristine C60 can only induce the formation of bulk PC spherocrystals which have no help or even deteriorates the mechanical properties of PC/C60 nanocomposite films. By contrast, the PC-modified C60 achieves uniformly disperse in the matrix and induces the formation of microcrystalline structures. It is found that appropriate degree of crystallinity for the PC/modified C60 nanocomposite films can effectively improve the mechanical properties. Typically, the PC/0.50 wt%-modified C60 nanocomposite films prepared under 40 °C by tetrahydrofuran exhibits up to a 33% increment in tensile strength and 45% increment in Young’s modulus compared to neat PC films.