Nanocomposites based on layered silicate and miscible PVDF/PMMA blends: melt preparation, nanophase morphology and rheological behaviour

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt-extrusion using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as an interfacial agent. These nanocomposite materials were analysed with respect to their morphological and rheological properties. The nanophase morphology development and nanophase dispersion were studied using TEM. A fine dispersion of partially to nearly fully exfoliated silicate layers in miscible PVDF/PMMA blend matrices was observed when organophilic montmorillonite was used. Increasing the amount of PMMA in the PVDF/PMMA blend leads to high degree of exfoliation.

The rheological behaviour of intercalated/exfoliated PVDF/PMMA nanocomposites containing various concentrations of organophilic silicate was also investigated. At low frequencies, the storage modulus is increasing with increasing PMMA content and the frequency dependence of the storage modulus gradually changes from liquid-like to solid-like for nanocomposites when 10 wt% of PMMA is added, indicating formation of a network structure.

Dynamic mechanical investigations show a dramatic increase of the storage modulus in the rubbery plateau compared to conventional mineral fillers, as a result of the network structure. Due to the ‘nano’-sized dispersion, property efficiency is already realized at low loading levels (3–5 wt%).