Morphology, crystallization, thermal, and mechanical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) films filled with different concentrations of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 53; no. 7; pp. 1364 - 1373
• Main Authors: Liu, Yizhi, Sun, Yi, Zeng, Fanlin, Chen, Yunjun, Li, Qingkun, Yu, Bowen, Liu, Wenjing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-07-2013; Wiley; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crystallinity; Crystallization; Decomposition (Chemistry); Exact sciences and technology; Fluorides; Inorganic and organomineral polymers; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane; Polyvinylidene fluoride; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Properties; Properties and characterization; China; Strengthening; Polymer blends; Property composition relationship; Silsesquioxane polymer; Fluorine containing polymer; Crystallization; Mechanical properties; Crystallinity; Hardness; Experimental study; Oligomer; Structure composition relationship; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Polyhedral molecule; Morphology; Vinylidene fluoride polymer
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.23398

Nanocomposites consisting of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix and 0–8 wt% fluoropropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FP‐POSS) were obtained through the solvent evaporation method. Morphology, crystallization, as well as thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. FP‐POSS, acting as a nucleating agent, exhibited robust miscibility with PVDF, enhancing the crystallinity of PVDF. A high relative fraction of the β phase was observed in the composites. The thermal degradation of PVDF was not significantly affected by FP‐POSS under a nitrogen atmosphere. Low addition of FP‐POSS, acting as nanofiller, led to remarkable improvement in mechanical properties, including hardness. The maximum was achieved at 3 wt%. High amounts led to inferior mechanical properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers