Influence of High Contents of Silver Nanoparticles on the Physical Properties of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)

Abstract

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles were incorporated into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) up to 90 wt% (15.3 vol%) via melt mixing. The addition of Ag nanoparticles slightly increased the crystallization temperature and heat of crystallization of PVDF by 1.2 C and 5.1 J=g at 90 wt% loading, respectively. In the thermal degradation behaviors, high contents of Ag nanoparticles more than 50 wt% induced a negative effect on the thermal stability of the matrix by decreasing the onset temperature of the degradation as much as 40 C. Thermal conductivity was slightly increased with Ag content up to 5 wt%, but further addition of Ag induced a notable increase because of the high thermal conductivity of Ag nanoparticles. In the WAXD (Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction) patterns, all the samples presented only a-phase crystal regardless of Ag loading. Both tensile strength and elongation at break were decreased from 5 wt% loading with increasing Ag content.

Physico-Mechanical, Dielectric, and Piezoelectric Properties of PVDF Electrospun Mats Containing Silver Nanoparticles

“…This can be related to (i) the immobilization of the polymer and free radical chains through interaction with the AgNPs, and/or (ii) the interaction between the degradation volatiles and the AgNPs, which delayed the diffusion of these volatiles out of the polymer. One group made similar observations for PVDF with low AgNPs contents [12], while another group found that the AgNPs facilitated the thermal decomposition of PVDF at high silver nanoparticle contents, which they attributed to the high thermal conductivity of the silver [22]. Therefore, it can be claimed that the silver nanoparticles increase the thermal stability at low concentration due to preceding reasons.…”

“…These results show large standard deviations, because the tested samples were fiber mats with a non-uniform distribution of fiber thicknesses and defects knowing that four specimen were tested for each sample. Previous research also showed an increase in tensile strength up to 1% AgNPs, but a decrease at higher nanoparticle contents due to agglomeration of the AgNPs [22]. …”

“…They reported that the fibers became rough with increasing the silver content, and the maximum β-phase content was observed for the 1.5% of AgNWs content. Another group, which investigated the physical properties of PVDF/AgNPs, but at high silver contents up to 90%, found that the thermal stability was slightly improved up to 20% AgNPs content, but higher silver contents facilitated the decomposition of PVDF [22].…”

Effect of Ag nanoparticle concentration on the electrical and ferroelectric properties of Ag/P(VDF-TrFE) composite films

“…Most of the studies about the effects of Ag nanoparticles on piezoelectric polymers have focused on the percolation effect of the nanoparticles on the electric properties as well as dialectic properties in terms of energy storage of the polymer 10 11 12 . However, there is still under controversial debate whether the Ag nanoparticles improves or deteriorates the electric properties 13 14 15 . Furthermore, there has been no systematic study about the effect of Ag nanoparticles on the piezoelectric properties, which are crucial for applications to PEHs.…”

Development of poly (vinylidene fluoride)/silver nanoparticle electrospun nanofibre mats for energy harvesting

“…[26][27] Percolation effect of AgNP with respect to electric and dielectric properties was studied. [28][29][30] Literature [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] on PVDF/AgNP nanofibres mats indicates increase in piezoelectric coefficient, crystallinity and mechanical properties due to the addition of AgNP in PVDF. However, there is still scope for studying effect of AgNP on electrical and piezoelectric properties of nanofibre mats for energy harvesting.…”