Dielectric relaxation process of SiC nanowires/Poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene) composites

The SiC nanowires (NWs)/Poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-CTFE)] composites were fabricated by solution casting method, which were detailly studied using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The SiC NWs exhibited well dispersion in P(VDF-CTFE) matrix, and the phase transition of P(VDF-CTFE) was observed. Compared with P(VDF-CTFE), both melting and crystalline temperatures of the composites increased visibly, and their crystallinities decreased. The permittivities of the composites are higher than P(VDF-CTFE) throughout the whole temperature range, and Curie transition temperature shifted to high temperature. Further, the Cole-Cole plots and electric modulus spectra of all samples exhibited the non-Debye relaxation behavior, and the intensities of M" spectra were elevated with increasing temperature. The sigma(ac) of the composites increased and still maintained at a lower value. Because of high thermal conductivity of SiC NWs, the activation energy (E-sigma) of conductivity for the composites decreased slightly. Thus, the excellent properties of the SiC NWs/P(VDF-CTFE) composites may be suitable for applications in the dielectric field.