Fullerene induced crystallization towards improved mechanical properties of solvent casting polycarbonate films
writer：Su YK, Ran SY, Fang ZP, Guo ZH*
keywords：Nanocomposite; Fullerene; Mechanical properties; Crystallization
source：期刊
specific source：Applied Physics A, 2020.3, 126(4): 293
Issue time：2020年
In this work, the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite films prepared via solvent casting method were studied. Pristine fullerene (C60) and PC modified C60 nanoparticles were applied as nucleating agents for PC, the crystallization behavior for PC nanocomposite films was characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) and POM (Polarizing microscope) tests. It was found that C60 particles could only induce the formation of bulk PC spherocrystals which had no help or even deteriorated the mechanical properties of PC/C60 nanocomposite films. Differ from pristine C60, the PC modified C60 nanoparticles could uniformly disperse in the matrix and induce forming microcrystalline structures. Further investigation indicated that by controlling the solvent casting conditions, PC microcrystalline structures with different crystallinity could be obtained. Appropriate degree of crystallinity for the PC/modified C60 nanocomposite films would effectively improve the mechanical properties of the films. Typically, the PC/0.50 wt.% modified C60 nanocomposite films prepared under 40 °C by THF exhibited up to a 33% increment in tensile strength and 45% increment in Young''s modulus compared to neat PC films.