PVDF containing different oxide nanoparticles for application in oil and gas pipelines

Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with different commercial nanoparticles (rutile-TiO2, SiO2, α-Al2O3, Fe3O4) were prepared by melt extrusion and characterized. The effects of incorporating these nanoparticles in the matrix on the chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties were investigated. From the FTIR spectra, it was possible to calculate the percentage of α and β-phases of the PVDF matrix. The incorporation of nanoparticles increased the content of the β-crystals when compared with neat PVDF, indicating an improvement in the homogenization of the nanocomposite as observed in SEM images of PVDF/rutile-TiO2. The dynamic-mechanical analysis showed a decrease in storage and loss modulus in PVDF/α-Al2O3, but in both PVDF/rutile-TiO2 and PVDF/SiO2, only a small reduction was observed. The thermal properties also reduced after incorporation of these nanoparticles, except in PVDF/SiO2. For application as a barrier layer in oil ducts, the degradation temperature measured is appropriate to maintain the thermal stability at 130 °C (requested temperature). The experimental results indicated that PVDF/rutile-TiO2 and PVDF/SiO2 exhibited good potential properties, mainly by reducing permeability to CO2 with an increase of lagtime compared to neat PVDF.