Nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 62; pp. 11 - 18
• Main Authors: Lim, Jun Young, Kim, Jihun, Kim, Sehyun, Kwak, Soonjong, Lee, Youngchul, Seo, Yongsok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 07.04.2015
• Subjects: Crystallization; Fluorides; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Nonsiothermal crystallization kinetics; Nuclei; Piezoelectricity; Polymorphs development; Polyvinylidene fluorides; PVDF/MWCNT nanocomposites; Spherulites; PVDF/MWCNT nanocomposites; Polymorphs development; Nonsiothermal crystallization kinetics
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.02.012

A kinetic equation for the nonisothermal crystallization was employed to analyze the crystallization behaviors of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (PVDF/MWCNT) composites and its polymorph development. The Avramic exponent, n, could be reasonably well determined from the nonisothermal crystallization exotherm. The polarized optical microscopy showed that both neat PVDF and the nanocomposites had well-developed spherulite morphology. Most crystallization phase of the composite had only α-phase. Without an external stimulus, development of β-phase responsible for the piezoelectric properties of PVDF was not observed. Nonisothermal analysis implicitly provides the clue of morphological development history as well as PVDF molecular ordering around the foreign nuclei. [Display omitted] •A kinetic equation for the nonisothermal crystallization was employed to analyze the crystallization behaviors.•Most crystallization phase of the composite had only α-phase.•Without an external stimulus, development of β-phase of PVDF was not observed.•Nonisothermal analysis provides the clue of morphological development history and PVDF molecular ordering.