Crystallization behawior of poiyi(vinylidene fluoride)/ montmoriiionite nanocomposite

Abstract

The crystallization behavior of poIy(vinylidene fluoride)/ montmorillonite (PVDF/MMT) nanocomposite was investigated by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), polarizing optical microscope (POM), and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the crystallization behavior of PVDF was changed by adding MMT in PVDF matrix. The MMT layers in PVDF acted as effec- tive nycleation agents. It is observed that the crystalli- zation temperature of PVDF/MMT nanocomposite was higher than that of PVDF at various cooling rates. The value of half-time of crystallization showed that the crystallization rate of PVDF/MMT nanocomposite was faster than that of PVDF at a given cooling rate. The addition of MMT hindered the growth of spherulite. Nonisothermal crystallization data was analyzed using Avrami, Ozawa, and Jeziorny method. The Jeziorny method successfully described the nonisothermal crys- tallization behaviors of PVDF/MMT nanocomposite. The MMT loading was favorable to produce the piezoelectric ß phase in the PVDF matrix. The at phase coexisted with the ß phase in the PVDF/MMT nano- composite. For this polymorphic structure, a possible explanation was proposed based on the variable temperature X-ray diffraction, DSC, and POM experi- merits. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.