Dynamical mechanical properties of polyvinylbutyral nanocomposites - A comparison between different nano-carbon reinforcements

ABSTRACT

In this work, the role of the degree of acetalization of polyvinylbutyral (PVB) on the dynamic mechanical properties of PVB nanocomposites was evaluated. Nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanoparticles (pristine or oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and graphene nanoplatelets) were prepared by in situ addition during the synthesis of PVB from polyvinyl alcohol. It was found that the presence of nanoreinforcements during the synthesis considerably alters the degree of acetalization (AD) of PVB (ca. 65 mol% for the neat polymer), which values ranged from 50 to 77 mol%. Dynamic mechanical analyses were used to calculate the storage modulus and other parameters such as: factor C, degree of entanglement and adhesion factor, which were correlated with scanning electron microscopy images. There was a tendency to decrease AD with the increase in the degree of oxidation of the nanoreinforcements, however this contributed to a better dispersion and adhesion of these to the polymer matrix and, consequently, altered positively the nanocomposite properties.

Keywords
polyvinylbutyral; nanocomposites; carbon nanotubes; graphene nanoplatelets; dynamic mechanical analysis; acetalization degree