Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(vinyl acetate)/carbon nanotubes, PVDF/PVAc/CNT, composite films were prepared at various compositions via a solution casting method. The amorphous PVAc formed a miscible blend with PVDF and drastically improved dispersion of CNT in PVDF/CNT composites. Combination of ductile PVAc and rigid CNT had favorable effects on mechanical properties of PVDF. The elongation of PVDF increased from 8% to 300% with addition of 40 wt% PVAc and 0.5 wt% CNT and the modulus at 1.5 wt% CNT was almost 2.3 fold of that of the neat PVDF while retaining high ductility and tensile strength. XRD and FTIR results showed that CNT favored formation of β-crystalline phase in PVDF. Also DSC results showed that the addition of CNT resulted in higher melting temperatures, Tm, and higher crystallinity. Electrical conductivity of the composite films increased sharply by addition of only 1 wt% CNT that attributed to development of CNT network morphology in PVDF/PVAc matrix.

Keywords: carbon nanotube; poly(vinylidene fluoride); poly(vinyl acetate); nanocomposite