Non-Isothermal Crystallization of Poly(vinylidene Fluoride)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites

Abstract

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (PVDF/MWCNT) composites were prepared by the method of solution blending. The non-isothermal crystallization of PVDF and its composites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the crystallization peaks shifted to lower temperature and the exothermic trace became wider when cooling rate increased for PVDF and its composites. The MWCNTs caused an increase in crystallization temperature and initial crystallization temperature. In addition, the Jeziorny and Mo methods were used to analyze the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics. The results showed that the crystallization rate rose with an increase in cooling rate, however, the MWCNTs decreased the crystallization rates of PVDF.

Keywords:

• Composites
• Crystallization kinetics
• Multiwalled carbon nanotube
• Non-isothermal crystallization
• Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Science Technology Plan Project of Chinese Ministry of Construction (No. 2011-K4-16) and Tianjian City High School Science & Technology Fund Planning Project (No. 20100316).