Tailoring of interfacial properties by ionic liquids in a fluorinated matrix based nanocomposites

Different ionic liquids based on alkyltriphenylphosphonium and imidazolium-functionalized either with two alkyl chains or with a fluorinated chain have been synthesized and used as interfacial agents for the layered silicates. The effect of the chemical nature of the organic cation on the morphology and the physical properties of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposites has been studied. The influence of ionic liquids on polymorphic crystalline forms, i.e. alpha and beta phases of the polymer matrix was discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.