1. Impact of Clay Nanoparticles on Structure and Relaxation of a Polar Polymer Peggy Cebe, Department of Physics and Astronomy Tufts University, Medford, MA a
Background: When polymers are mixed with clay, the clay nanoparticles often enhance the properties of the host polymer. Clay acts as a two-dimensional reinforcement, improving the mechanical, thermal, and electrical behavior of polymers. We are studying the effects of the addition of clay on polar polymers with applications as electrical transducers and sensors.
Objective: To create electrospun composites nanofibers, for use as electrically active fibrous membranes. The selected polymer is a polar polymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF. The clay is LucentiteTM, a synthetic silicate, organically modified to enhance its interaction with the polymer host.
Figure – Electrospun fibers with 10% OMS are shown in (a). The fiber diameter is more uniform and bead formation is reduced as OMS content increases. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results of absorbance vs. frequency are shown in (b). OMS content increases from 0% (pure PVDF, red curve) to 1.0% (green) to 10% (blue) OMS addition. The non-polar alpha phase decreases, while the electrically important beta phase increases, with OMS addition. b