Investigation of morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, piezoelectricity and conductivity of PVDF nanocomposites reinforced with epoxy functionalized MWCNTs

Saddiqa Begum, Hameed Ullah, Irfan Ahmed, Yiqiang Zhan, Ayesha Kausar, Muhammad Adeel Aleem, Saeed Ahmad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In order to improve the dispersion state of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and to get a synergistic effect when incorporated in polyvinylidene flouride (PVDF) matrix, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized and then grafted with di-glycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) by a linker moiety, hexamethylene diamine (HMD). Modified MWCNTs (HD-MWCNTs) with various concentrations of 1.0 wt% to 10 wt% were incorporated in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix for the fabrication of polymeric nanocomposites (PVDF/HD-MWCNTs). Compared to pristine MWCNTs (P-MWCNTs), the structural and thermal analysis of both modified MWCNTs showed a well crystalline structure with a uniform tubular morphology as well as uniform and improved dispersion was achieved in their nanocomposites with PVDF. Enhanced dispersion is attributed to a strong interfacial interaction of the modified MWCNTs with polymer chains of PVDF. Therefore, by thermal analysis of PVDF/HD-MWCNTs nanocomposites both melting temperature (Tm) and temperature of crystallization (Tc) have revealed the uniform distribution of nanotubes and enhancement of heterogeneous nucleating effect leading to formation of β-phase which is in complete agreement with SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA and d33 value. Piezoelectric and electrical conductivity values measured for PVDF/HD-MWCNTs nanocomposites were observed to rise with increase in concentration of HD-MWCNTs up to 5 wt% where the percolation threshold (fc) is attained. PVDF/HD-MWCNTs nanocomposite with highest electrical conductivity of 1.13 x 10−3 Scm−1 at filler loading of 5 wt% was successfully achieved. These simultaneous improvement in properties anticipate that PVDF/HD-MWCNTs nanocomposites can be useful for variety of energy applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number108841
JournalComposites Science and Technology
Volume211
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Functionalized carbon nanotubes
  • Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
  • Nanocomposite
  • PVDF
  • Thermal and electrical properties

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