Scientific Technical Review (Jan 2016)
Preliminary analysis of the possibility of preparing PVB/IF-WS2 composites. Effect of nanoparticles addition on thermal and rheological behavior of PVB
Abstract
A possibility of using inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide, IF-WS2, nanoparticles as a filler in poly (vinyl butyral), PVB, for improving its thermal and rheological properties is examined. PVB is a thermoplastic polymer with excellent properties, widely used: in ballistic protection, for protection of safety glass, in metal primers and coatings, temporary binders. Two different molecular weights of PVB were previously examined in this research: Mowital B60H and B75H. Both grades of PVB were dissolved in different solvents: ethanol and 2-propanol. Thin films were prepared by solvent casting technique. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the tested samples was determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), at three different heating rates (5°C/min, 10°C/min and 20°C/min). After choosing a solvent and PVB grade, IF-WS2 nanoparticles were added to PVB solutions and dispersed by ultrasonic irradiation. Compatibility, i.e. interaction of IF-WS2 with the dissolved PVB was examined by microcalorimetry method. The nanoparticles dispersion and deagglomeration in matrix of PVB was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of IF-WS2 on rheological properties of the chosen samples has been examined using Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), observing storage modulus, loss modulus and the loss factor as functions of temperature for the tested composites.