Preparation and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites containing amphiphilic ionic liquid modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report, herein, on the structure, melting/crystallization and mechanical properties of the PVDF nanocomposites filled with neat multiwalled carbon nanotubes, (MWCNTs), amphiphilic ionic liquids (IL) 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and IL-modified MWCNTs. All samples were characterized by FESEM, FTIR-ATR, XRD, DSC, DMA and mechanical testing. It is found that MWCNTs become equally dispersed in nanocomposites by wrapping them with IL molecule. The relative content of the polar phase is higher for the nanocomposites in comparison to neat polymer. The IL and IL-modified MWCNTs exhibited higher nucleation efficiency for PVDF crystallization. Besides, anion of the IL has also pronounced effect on the properties of the nanocomposites. The nucleation efficiency was much higher, when the anion is changed from [Br] to [PF₆]. The IL not only acts as a compatibilizer for PVDF/MWCNTs but also helped to transform the crystal structure of PVDF. The mechanism for different tensile properties of nanocomposites is also discussed.