Nanomechanical evaluation of poly (vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites reinforced with hybrid graphene nanoplatelets and titanium dioxide

This study further enhanced nanomechanical properties of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) using hybrid graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanopowder. The hybrid nanocomposites were prepared via solution blending and melt-mixing techniques. GNPs and TiO₂ nanopowder were surface modified to promote compatibility with the PVDF matrix. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed high degree of dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The nanomechanical properties were examined using Anton Paar Instrumented Nanoindenter. By incorporation of GNPs-TiO₂ hybrid nanoparticles in the matrix, there were increase in nanomechanical behaviors such as hardness, elastic modulus, stiffness and resistance to plastic deformation. For instance, hardness of 3.34wt%GNPs-10wt%TiO₂ (115.2 MPa) increased by 79.7% and 17.2% compared to PVDF (64.1 MPa) and 3.34wt%GNPs (98.3 MPa) nanocomposite, respectively. The enhanced properties of the hybrid nanocomposites were due to network strengthening and hardening and restriction of polymer chains mobility offered by rough surfaces of GNPs-TiO₂ hybrid nanoparticles.