X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies of a BaTiO₃/polyvinylidene fluoride composites

Abstract

Abstract Barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride (BaTiO 3 ) x (PVDF) 100– x composite samples were prepared and characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. In this work, the ratio of the constituents of this composite was altered, and the structural and thermal changes were studied. Also, the variation of tetragonality of BaTiO 3 (BT) in the composite samples as a function of BT content was studied for the first time. The results show that all the samples are in the α‐phase, and the hindrance to the PVDF crystallization increases with the increase of BaTiO 3 (BT) ratio in the composite. Tetragonal distortion of BT nanoparticles in the composite increases with the increase in BT ratio up to 30%, where it gets a saturation value. Also, it seems that stretching the samples enhances the BT tetragonality. Both melting and crystallization behaviors of the composite samples show double‐melting endotherms (reorganization) and crystallization exotherms. The inclusion of BT in the composite samples results in a decrease in the melting temperature of the samples. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:1945–1950, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers