Preliminary Studies of MWCNT/PVDF Polymer Composites

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.

Authors:

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

Keywords:

• Composites materials
• FTIR
• MWNTs
• PVDF
• UVVis.

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.