Study of Optical, Thermal, Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Fullerene/Poly (vinylidene fluoride) Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Fullerene (C60)/ poly (vinylidene fluoride) PVDF polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) films were prepared using a solution casting route. The optical, microstructural, thermal, and mechanical properties of pure PVDF and C60-PVDF polymer nanocomposite films were studied using UV-Visible & Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, X-ray diffractometer, Thermo-gravimetric analyzer, Tensile tester, and Field emission scanning electron microscope. An absorption band near 350 nm in the absorption spectrum shows the presence of C60 nanoparticles in the PNC film. In the FTIR spectrum, the presence of vibrational bands near 510 and 840 cm-1 suggest the development of β-phase of PVDF in PNC films. An increase in the degradation temperature from 444 0C in pure PVDF to 506 0C in PNC with 0.5 wt% C60 is ascribed to cross-linking occurring between C60 and polymer in PNC films. Both thermal conductivity and Young’s modulus vary non-linearly with C60 content in PNC films. Microscopic image shows agglomerated C60 particles of diameter ~550 nm, which were cross-linked to PVDF particles.