Descrição
Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3,([PVDF]1−x/[PZT]x) composites of volume fractions x and (0–3) type connectivity were prepared in the form of thin films. PZT powders with average grain sizes of 0.2, 0.84, and 2.35 μm in different volume fraction of PZT up to 40 % were mixed with the polymeric matrix. The influence of the inorganic particle size and its content on the thermal degradation properties of the composites was then investigated by means of thermo-gravimetric analysis. It is observed that filler size affects more than filler concentration the degradation temperature and activation energy of the polymer. In the same way and due to their larger specific area, smaller particles leave larger solid residuals after the polymer degradation. The polymer degradation mechanism is not significantly modified by the presence of the inorganic fillers. On the other hand, an inhibition effect occurs due to the presence of the fillers, affecting particularly the activation energy of the process. This work is funded by FEDER funds through the “Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade–COMPETE” and by national funds by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, project references PTDC/CTM/69316/2006, PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009, and NANO/NMed-SD/0156/2007. S. Firmino Mendes, C.M. Costa and V. Sencadas and thank to FCT grants SFRH/BD/22506/2005, SFRH/BD/68499/2010 and SFRH/BPD/63148/2009, respectively. The authors also thank support from the COST Action MP1003, the “European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles” (ESNAM).
; Costa, Carlos M. 
