Electron beam induced modifications in crystalline structure of polyvinylidene fluoride/nanoclay composites

• The crystallinity of PVDF varied with E-beam irradiation doses.
• Electron beam irradiation decreased the melting point of PVDF.
• The combined effect of nanoclay and E-beam on yield strength was synergistic.

PVDF/nanoclay nanocomposites were prepared via melt mixing method. The intercalated dispersion of the nanoclay in PVDF matrix was confirmed by XRD. According to FTIR, DSC and XRD results, the presence of nanoclay facilitated transition from α-to-β crystalline phase. Electron beam irradiation decreased the melting point of the nanocomposites. The decrease in melting point of the nanocomposites was about 11 °C at 500 kGy. The crystallinity of nanocomposites increased at an irradiation dose of 100 kGy and decreased at higher irradiation doses. The extent of crosslinking of the nanocomposites increased significantly with irradiation up to 300 kGy. The nanoclay intensified the increase in yield strength with irradiation doses up to 300 kGy. The combination of nanoclay and irradiation had a synergistic effect on the increase of yield strength.