Preliminary Studies of MWCNT/PVDF Polymer Composites

Authors: Esther Lorrayne M. Pereira, Adriana Souza M. Batista, Fabíola A. S. Ribeiro, Adelina P. Santos, Clascídia A. Furtado, Luiz O. Faria

Abstract:

The combination of multi–walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with polymers offers an attractive route to reinforce the macromolecular compounds as well as the introduction of new properties based on morphological modifications or electronic interactions between the two constituents. As they are only a few nanometers in dimension, it offers ultra-large interfacial area per volume between the nano-element and polymer matrix. Nevertheless, the use of MWCNTs as a rough material in different applications has been largely limited by their poor processability, insolubility, and infusibility. Studies concerning the nanofiller reinforced polymer composites are justified in an attempt to overcome these limitations. This work presents one preliminary study of MWCNTs dispersion into the PVDF homopolymer. For preparation, the composite components were diluted in n,n-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) with mechanical agitation assistance. After complete dilution, followed by slow evaporation of the solvent at 60°C, the samples were dried. Films of about 80 μm were obtained. FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the nanocomposites. The appearance of absorption bands in the FTIR spectra of nanofilled samples, when compared to the spectrum of pristine PVDF samples, are discussed and compared with the UV-Vis measurements.

Keywords: Composites materials, FTIR, MWNTs, PVDF, UVVis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1338776

References:

[1] C. Xing, L. Zhao, J. You, W. Dong, X. Cao, Y. Li, “Impact of ionic liquid-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride)”, in The Journal Physical Chemistry, vol. 116, 2012, pp. 8312-8320.
[2] S. Iijima, “Helical microtubules of graphic carbon” in Nature, vol. 354, 1991, pp. 56-58.
[3] W. Huang, K. Edenzon, L. Fernandez, S. Razmpour, J. Woodbum, P. Cebe, “Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes”, in Journal Applied Polymer Science, vol. 113, 2010, pp. 3238-3248.
[4] L. He, Q. Xu, C. Hua, R. Song, “Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on crystallization, thermal, and mechanical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)” in Polymer Composites, 2010, pp. 921-926.
[5] R. Song, D.B. Yang, L.H. He, in Journal Materials Science, vol. 42, 2007, pp. 8408-8417.
[6] K. Pal, D.J. Kang, Z.X. Zhang, J.K. Kim, “Synergistic effect of zirconiacoated carbon nanotubes on crystalline structure of polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites: electrical properties and flame-retardat behavior” in Langmuir, vol. 26 (5), 2010, pp. 3609-3614.
[7] C.C.P. Fontainha, A. T. Baptista-Neto, A. P. Santos, L. O. Faria, “P(VDF-TrFE)/ZrO2 Polymer-Composites for X-ray Shielding” in Material Research, 2015 (in print).
[8] Xuelian Cheng, Jun Zhong, Jie Meng, Man Yang, Fumin Jia, Zhen Xu, Hua Kong, and Haiyan Xu “Characterization of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersing in Water and Association with Biological Effects” Journal of Nanomaterials. Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 938491 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/938491
[9] L. He, J. Sun, X. Wang, L. Yao, J. Li, R. Song, Y. Hao, Y. He, W. Huang, “Enhancement of β-crystalline phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the presence of hyperbranched copolymer wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes” in Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 363, 2011, pp. 122-128.
[10] A. S .Medeiros, L. O. Faria, “High gamma dose response of poly(vinylidene fluoride) copolymers”, in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atomis (Print), v. 268, 2010, pp. 2740 – 2743.
[11] S. Lefrant, M. Baibarac, I. Baltog, “Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as valuable tools for the characterization of polymer and carbon nanotube based composites”, in Journal Materials Chemistry, vol. 19, 2009, pp. 5690-5704.
[12] E. Adem, J. Rickards, G. Burillo, L. Cota, M. Avalos-Borja, “Changes in poly-vinylidene fluoride produced by electron irradiation”in Radiation Physics and Chemistry, vol. 54, 1999, pp. 637-641.
[13] M. Zhang, M. Yudasaka, S. Bandow, S. Iijima, Chem. Phys. Lett., vol. 369, 2003, pp. 680.