Incorporation of Iron-Based Nanochains Into Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-co-Hexafluoropropylene) Films and Their Near-...

The addition of infrared (IR) shielding materials to glass/polymer constitutes a very attractive strategy. Taking advantage of this approach, this work demonstrates the preparation of Fe_xCo_{1‒ x} nanochains (NCs) (where x = 1.0, 0.75, and 0.25) synthesized via the magnetic-field-induced synthesis and their subsequent incorporation into the poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) films. Then, their near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) shielding properties are verified with IR transmittance and thermographic imaging techniques. It is found that the average fade of IR transmittance between 1667 and 6667 nm for 0.25 wt.% of Fe, Fe_0.75Co_0.25, Fe_0.25Co_0.75 NCs dispersed in PVDF-HFP film is about 15%, 56%, and 37%, respectively, while the increase of content of nanochains to 10 mg leads to a further drop to the level of 61%, 83%, and 74%, respectively. Also, the neat PVDF-HFP and PVDF-HFP filled with NCs almost do not reflect the NIR and MIR radiation. The thermographic imaging confirms the spectroscopic measurements as well as indicates that the higher content of nanochains introduced into PVDF-HFP results in a lower IR transmission coefficient. Thus, the IR shielding properties of the PVDF-HFP films can be controlled by incorporating various iron-based nanochains, and these composites open the way to superior IR antireflective and shielding applications.