Composites of Carbon Nanotubes with the Blend of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Poly(vinyl acetate)

Abstract

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(vinyl acetate)/carbon nanotubes, PVDF/PVAc/CNT, composite films were prepared at various compositions via a solution casting method. The amorphous PVAc formed a miscible blend with PVDF and drastically improved dispersion of CNT in PVDF/CNT composites. Combination of ductile PVAc and rigid CNT had favorable effects on mechanical properties of PVDF. The elongation of PVDF increased from 8% to 300% with addition of 40 wt% PVAc and 0.5 wt% CNT and the modulus at 1.5 wt% CNT was almost 2.3 fold of that of the neat PVDF while retaining high ductility and tensile strength. XRD and FTIR results showed that CNT favored formation of β-crystalline phase in PVDF. Also DSC results showed that the addition of CNT resulted in higher melting temperatures, TSUBm/SUB, and higher crystallinity. Electrical conductivity of the composite films increased sharply by addition of only 1 wt% CNT that attributed to development of CNT network morphology in PVDF/PVAc matrix.