Nanocomposites based on natural rubber latex as the matrix and naturally occurring tubular shaped nanoclay, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as the reinforcing phase were prepared through co-coagulation method. XRD, morphology, mechanical, and solvent transport properties of the nanocomposites with special reference to weight percentage of nanoclay were analyzed and discussed in detail. Matrix-filler interaction was estimated from Kraus, Cunneen-Russell, and Lorentz-Park plots. Theoretical estimation of reinforcement effect revealed a better interaction between rubber and filler at lower concentration of filler. At higher loading properties decreased due to the formation of filler-filler networks than polymer-filler networks resulting in the reduction of aspect ratio of fillers. Properties of nanocomposites depend on the aspect ratio and volume fraction of reinforcing filler. Morphological analyses of the nanocomposites were done in detail from scanning electron micrographs. Theoretical modulus of nanocomposites was computed using different composite theories by varying the aspect ratio of filler and compared with experimental data. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical values was observed at lower concentration of filler. Solvent transport properties of nanocomposites were found to decrease at lower concentration of HNT because of the tortuosity of the path. POLYM. COMPOS.,
The aim of the study is to find the role of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) in the phase formation of poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its effect on electrical and structural properties of PZT-PVDF composites (50 Vol%) with 0-3 connectivity. PZT particles of different sizes ranging from micron to nano are used. The particle size (<100 nm) were determined from TEM and the broadening of the characteristic diffraction peaks in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), studies were performed to analyze the nature of ceramic particle distribution within the matrix. The percentage of polymer crystallinity was determined from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size. The decrease in the crystallinity percentage is due the hindrance offered by ceramic during the crystallization of the polymer. The melting endotherms of the composites were deconvoluted and the amount of PVDF β-phase present in the composites were determined and was found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies were also carried out to confirm the decrease in the β-phase content with decrease in particle size. The variation in the amount of β-phase of the polymer is due to the presence of PZT which acts as a source of electric field during poling and converts other polymer phases to β-phase. The piezoelectric coefficient and remnant polarization was found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size and is due to the decrease in percentage of β phase in the composites.
PZT-PVdF composites with 0-3 connectivity were prepared through solution casting technique. The effect of particle size (>106 µm, 106-63 µm, >63-25 µm, 80 nm, 60 nm and 40 nm) on piezoelectric coefficient (d 33 ) of the composites was studied. The amount of crystallinity and piezoelectric coefficient of the composites were obtained from DSC and piezometer, respectively. The PZT particles distribution in the polymer matrix was analyzed using SEM studies. The amount of crystallinity was found to decrease with decrease in particle size, which in turn decreases the piezoelectric coefficient. The investigation reveals that the dispersed reinforcement influences the crystallization kinetics of PVdF polymer chain, thereby promoting localized amorphous regions, which decreases the piezoelectric coefficient.
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