Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP) on the Structural, Thermal, and Dielectric Properties of Polypropylene/Polyvinylidenedifluoride (PP/PVDF) Nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

Polypropylene/polyvinylidene difluoride/graphene nanoplatelets (PP/PVDF/GNP) nanocomposites are fabricated by incorporation of various weight percentages of GNP (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt.%) into 50/50 vol% blend of PP/PVDF. The melt mix followed by hydraulic hot press is used to get a final nanocomposite with optimal density and thickness. The resulting nanocomposites are characterized for their structural, thermal and dielectric properties. Especially, nanocomposites shown an improved dielectric permittivity compared with PP/PVDF blend. The nanocomposite containing 10 wt.% of GNP achieves a dielectric permittivity of an approximately 20.7, dielectric loss of 0.08 and AC conductivity of 9.6 × 10⁻¹¹ S/cm at 100 Hz and room temperature. Prompted by these results, influence of temperature and frequency on dielectric properties of PP/PVDF blend and PP/PVDF/GNP‐10 wt.% nanocomposite was analyzed by applying various temperatures and frequencies. The dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss of blend and composite are gradually decreased as frequency increases. Conversely, these properties are increased with rising temperature at lower frequency. However, these properties are almost independent of temperature at higher frequencies. This study supports the significant improvement in structural, thermal and dielectric performance of PP/PVDF polymer matrix by strategic addition of GNP.