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Formation of an interconnected lamellar structure in PVDF membranes with nanoparticles addition via solid‐liquid thermally induced phase separation
Author(s) -
Ma Wenzhong,
Zhang Jun,
Bruggen Bart Van der,
Wang Xiaolin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.37574
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallization , differential scanning calorimetry , membrane , chemical engineering , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , lamellar structure , nucleation , nanoparticle , scanning electron microscope , polymer chemistry , phase (matter) , microporous material , nanocomposite , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , biochemistry , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Novel microporous membranes were prepared via thermally induced solid‐liquid (S‐L) phase separation of mixtures containing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/diphenyl ketone (DPK)/nanoparticles [such as montmorillonite (MMT) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)] in diluted systems with a mass ratio of 29.7/70/0.3 wt %. The crystallization and melting characteristics of these diluted systems were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The nanoparticle structure and the interaction between PVDF chains and nanoparticle surfaces determined the crystallization behavior and morphology of the PVDF membrane. The addition of MMT and PTFE had a significant nucleation enhancement on the crystallization of PVDF accompanied by S‐L phase separation during the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process. It was observed that an interconnected lamellar structure was formed in these two membranes, leading to a higher tensile strength compared with that of the reference membrane without nanoparticles addition. Additionally, addition of MMT facilitates the fiber‐like β phase crystal formation, resulting in the highest elongation at break. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013