Effect of blended montomollironite on crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Abstract

The effect of blend of nano-clay on Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) crystallization was examined in PVDF/organo-clay (organically modified clay) nanocomposites and PVDF/natural-clay (non-modified clay) composites. These two types of composite materials were prepared by a melt compounding method using a twin-screw extruder. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) measurement. We found that the PVDF crystallizes as β-form crystal on clay surface of both composite systems. Results for films made by slow cooling from melt are one important evidence that crystallization mechanism of β-form PVDF in these nanocomposites is epitaxial growth on the surface of clay platelets. In addition, we predict PVDF crystallization behaviors which depend on degree of supercooling by comparing quenched and slowly cooled samples of the composite systems. © 2009 The Society of Polymer Science.