Synthesis and characterization of PVDF/clay/PZT nanocomposites with enhanced electroactive β-phase

In this study, hybrid nanocomposites of poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix were synthesized to maximize the electroactive β-phase. PVDF/clay, PVDF/clay/PZT (lead zirconate titanate) and PVDF/PZT composites series with PZT loading of (0-40 %) were fabricated using melt casting technique. PVDF/clay/PZT composites parameters were optimized as a function of micro sized PZT filler concentrations and montmorillonite clay incorporated in the PVDF matrix with different surface modifications. As the reported literature on PVDF/PZT composites for enhancement of β-phase is rare, thus a possible spectrum of PVDF/PZT formulations containing different weight percentages of PZT powder (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt. %) were developed and studied. All the composites were made by melt mixing and casted into flexible and homogeneous thin films. Presence of electroactive β-phase was confirmed by different characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The gradual but noteworthy increment in polar β-phase was observed by fixing the composition of PVDF and nanoclay but varying the concentration of PZT. Further, it was observed that the change of organic surface modifications in montmorillonite clay not only improved the dispersion of filler in PVDF matrix but also maximized the electroactive β-phase.