Dramatic enhancements in toughness of polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites via nanoclay-directed crystal structure and morphology

The first instance of a remarkable enhancement in toughness and stiffness of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite compared to the pristine polymer is reported (see Figure). The enhanced toughness is attributed to structural and morphological changes induced by the nanoparticles, as well as their increased mobility compared to micrometer-size fillers, which contributes to a new energy dissipation mechanism during deformation.