Insights into the Electroactive Impact of Magnetic Nanostructures in PVDF Composites via Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Abstract

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) holds strong technological relevance due to its thermal stability, chemical, mechanical and radiation resistance, transparency, biocompatibility, and ease of processing. Several of those applications are related to its high electroactivity, for which the β-phase of the polymer is its most renowned protagonist. It is in this context there is extensive research on the crystallization of PVDF in the β-phase, both when processed from the melt and from solution. Several decades of research revealed that the electroactive β-PVDF can be nucleated by introducing nanofillers within the polymer matrix, based on electrostatic interactions between polymer chains and fillers. However, one question persists. Beyond these electrostatic interactions, on what mechanism does the nucleation of the β-phase in composites depend? This works demonstrates, through the use of small-angle neutron scattering measurements, that the answer is related with the type of fillers’ agglomeration.