Thermodynamic and morphological studies of the solid-state transition in copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene

Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluroethylene are presently being considered for many piezoelectric applications. In contrast to the poly(vinylidene fluoride) homopolymer, a transition from the room temperature ferroelectric phase to a paraelectric phase has been observed in these copolymers. The temperature of this transition was determined by measuring the position of the endothermic peak observed in the differential scanning calorimeter. The rate of cooling from the paraelectric to ferroelectric phase was found to affect the temperature at which the transition occurred on subsequent heating. Changing the conditions under which molten polymer initially crystallized into the paraelectric phase had an even greater effect on the resultant transition temperature. In addition to the DSC studies, wide-angle x-ray measurements were performed on samples subjected to different thermal treatments. No significant differences were found in the x-ray scans of these copolymers.     

Solid-state 19F MAS NMR study on the conformation and molecular mobility of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene)

The temperature dependence of molecular mobility and conformational changes of poly(chlorotrifluoro- ethylene) (PCTFE) have been investigated by solid-state (19)F magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The pulse techniques of dipolar-filter and T(1rho)-filter allow selective observation of the amorphous and crystalline domains, respectively. The temperature dependence of T(1rho) (F) revealed that the segmental motion in the amorphous domain becomes vigorous above ca 80 degrees C, which is well above the glass transition (T(g)) temperature (52 degrees C) and more close to the beta-relaxation temperature (95 degrees C). On the other hand, vigorous molecular motions in the crystalline domain occur above 120 degrees C, which is much below the melting temperature (212 degrees C). This indicates that the polymer chains in the PCTFE crystallites are more mobile than those of typical semicrystalline fluoropolymers like poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), which can be associated with structural imperfections in the crystallites. In addition, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of (19)F magnetic shielding suggest that the high-frequency shifts observed for the crystalline signals above 80 degrees C can be ascribed to the conformational change around meso diads toward more twisted and/or helical conformations in the main chain.     

Submillimeter infrared spectroscopy of fluorinated polymers - phase transition study

Submillimeter infrared technique is used to study the phase transitions in poly(vinylidene fluoride) homopolymer and copolymers with trifluorethylene. During the phase transition form II to form I, induced by copolymerization, electrical or mechanical stresses, the spectra show an important increasing of the submillimeter absorption. This behavior is explained by changes of the polarizability at phase transition.     

Interpretation of thermal transitions and phase transformations in semi-crystalline PVDF/PEO/graphene nanocomposites characterized by modulated-temperature DSC

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The glass transition temperature ( $$T_{{\text{g}}}$$ ) and binodal phase transition ( $$T_{{\text{b}}}$$ ) of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(ethylene...     

偏氟乙烯-四氟乙烯共聚物高取向薄膜的形态结构研究

聚偏氟乙烯(PVF₂)至少有四种晶相结构,即α、β、γ和δ相,PVF₂的压电性和热电性直接依赖其β相结构。 本工作报导以特殊的熔体拉伸方法制备不同组成偏氯乙烯(VF₂)和四氟乙烯(VF₄)的共聚物高取向薄膜与对其结构的研究结果。     

Molecular mobility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the anisotropic state

The effect of uniaxial orientational drawing and subsequent isometric annealing on the molecular mobility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) was studied by dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The influence of orientation, the polymorphic composition of the crystalline phase, and the structure of disordered regions on dielectric and mechanical relaxation in isotropic and oriented samples was investigated.     

聚偏氟乙烯的辐射交联及其交联度的XPS表征

本文首次用XPS研究了聚偏氟乙烯的辐射交联机理,交联度的XPS表征。计算出聚偏氟乙烯的β值为0.7,发现聚偏氟乙烯的辐射交联的溶胶分数与辐照剂量的关系符合我们提出的通式^[1]。用XPS方法求得聚偏氟乙烯的凝胶化剂量为1.59mrad。     

DFT study of ferroelectric properties of the copolymers: Poly(vinylideneflouride‐trifluoroethylene) and poly(vinylidene fluoride‐chlorotrifluoroethylene)

A theoretical study of poly(vinylidene flouride‐trifluoroethylene) and poly(vinylidene fluoride‐chlorotrifluoroethylene, is presented. By density functional theory calculations, some of the properties of these materials have been obtained. Among such properties, the dipolar moment and the energies associated to the structural changes. The B3LYP functional and 6311+G(d,p) bases set were used with Gaussian program. Calculations associated to different conformations were carried out to get insight about the involved phase changes. The energetic, charges, and dipole moment were calculated. The conformations, namely, I = T_p, II = TG_a, and III = TG_p, where T means trans and G means gauche, for the two polymers aforementioned were compared with the poly(vinilydene fluoride) studies previously obtained. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110:2411–2417, 2010     

EFFECT OF COMPOSITION AND PROCESSING CONDITION ON MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF FLUOROPOLYMER/ACRYLIC BLENDS

Fluoropolymer blends have been widely used as binders for exterior coatings because of their excellent resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation as well as to many corrosive chemical agents.It is known that the fluorinated component usually has a lower glass transition temperature and easily crystallizes in the final structure depending upon the blend composition and sample annealing condition.We investigated the effect of blend composition and annealing process (slow and fast cooling) on the surface mor...     

On the gelation rate of thermoreversible poly(vinylidene fluoride) gels in glyceryl tributyrate

The gelation rate of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂)/glyceryl tributyrate (GTB) system has been measured. It has been analysed with the help of an equation which contains φⁿ and f(T) term where φ is a reduced overlapping concentration and n is analogous to the percolation exponent β in a three-dimensional lattice. f(T) is related to the temperature function of the coil-to-helix transition. Analysis of the gelation rates supports that the three-dimensional percolation is a suitable mechanism in this gelation process and it also indicates that the gelation is caused by coil-to-helix transition followed by their association.     

Rheo-optical fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of polymers. 9. Stretching-induced II(α)-I(β) crystal phase transformation in poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Simultaneous Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic and stress-strain measurements have been used to study the II(α)-I(β) crystal phase transformation in poly(vinylidene fluoride) under tensile stress at variable temperature. From the experimental data it can be derived that in the investigated temperature interval from 348 to 423 K the drawing process is inhomogeneous and occurs via formation of a neck. The II(α)-I(β) phase transformation is restricted to temperatures below 423 K and its onset is generally related to the formation of the neck.     

EFFECT OF COMPOSITION AND PROCESSING CONDITION ON MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF FLUOROPOLYMER/ACRYLIC BLENDS

 Fluoropolymer blends have been widely used as binders for exterior coatings because of their excellent resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation as well as to many corrosive chemical agents. It is known that the fluorinated component usually has a lower glass transition temperature and easily crystallizes in the final structure depending upon the blend composition and sample annealing condition. We investigated the effect of blend composition and annealing process (slow and fast cooling) on the surface morphology and microstructure a poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PVDF/PMMA) blend before and after UV exposure. Surface and subsurface microstructures were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Bulk microstructure of PVDF-coatings before and after UV exposure were characterized using small angle neutron and light scattering. Higher PVDF content and a slow cooling process result in larger spherulite crystallite structure and rougher surface morphology. Significant ordering in the spherulite crystallite structure has been observed on the surface and the bulk films after UV exposure.     

Molecular dynamics in PVDF/PVA blends as revealed by dielectric loss spectroscopy

The relaxation behavior of a series of compatible poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA) blends has been investigated by dielectric spectroscopy in a broad frequency and temperature range. Blends with PVDF content higher than 60% in weight are semicrystalline. Semicrystalline blends show a relaxation (α_c) occurring in the crystalline phase of PVDF. Both semicrystalline and amorphous blends exhibit two processes, α and β associated to the overall segmental dynamics and to localized motions in the amorphous phase, respectively. For high PVDF content samples, the β relaxation exhibits an anomalous behavior characterized by a crossover from segmental to local dynamics, upon decreasing temperature, attributed to confinement effects taking place in PVDF segregated regions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1653–1661, 2007     

Molecular interactions at the interface in blends of ester groups-functionalized polyolefins

Due to the apolarity of the aliphatic backbones, unmodified polyolefins are scarcely miscible with most of other polymers. The functionalization of preformed polyolefins is a way which has been successfully followed to improve the polymer miscibility. The functionalization of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and ethylene-propylene copolymers (EP), with diethyl maleate (DEM) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as radical initiator, gives products containing up to 2–5 mol % of well defined functional groups (2-diethyl succinate). Intermolecular interactions of these functional groups are characterized by comparison with suitable low-molecular-weight structural models in the presence of different solvents containing acidic hydrogen atoms. On the basis of these indication evidences of interface molecular interactions in blends with halogenated polymers are described between the functionalized polyolefins and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) or vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropene copolymer obtained in semiindustrial Brabender mixers. It is shown that a smooth functionalization of the polyolefins can modify the phase behaviour and structure of these systems. The FT-IR microanalysis supports the occurrence of partial miscibility phenomena which can be accounted for by specific intermolecular interactions involving the inserted functional groups and occurring mainly at the interfaces between domains of polyolefins and of the halogen-containing polymers.     

Oligo(vinylidene fluoride) Langmuir-Blodgett films studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry and the density functional theory

Thin films of amphiphilic vinylidene fluoride oligomers prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition on silicone substrates were investigated by comparing experimental and theoretical mid-infrared (IR) spectra. The experimental spectra were obtained using infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry. Theoretical spectra were calculated using density functional theory. Excellent correspondence of major IR bands in both data sets shows that the molecular backbone is oriented with the long axis normal to the substrate plane. This is in contrast to poly(vinylidene fluoride) LB films, in which the polymer chains are parallel to the substrate.     

Development of a simultaneous measurement system of x‐ray diffraction and raman spectra: Application to structural study of crystalline‐phase transitions of chain molecules

The development of a bench‐top‐type system for simultaneous measurement of X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectra has been made to investigate structural changes in the phase transitions of chain molecules such as polyethylene, n‐alkane, and so forth from various viewpoints. For the X‐ray diffraction measurement an imaging plate or a charge‐coupled device camera was used as a two‐dimensional detector. For the Raman spectral measurement a miniature Raman spectrometer was used with optical fibers for the irradiation of incident laser beams and collection of scattered signals. For example, in the heating process of the n‐C₃₀H₆₂ sample, the phase transition from orthorhombic‐to‐hexagonal lattices could be detected clearly by the X‐ray and Raman measurements. By comparing these two different types of data in detail, an intimate relationship between conformational disordering and rotational motion of molecular chains is detected more clearly than before. Also, similar discussion can be made for the orthorhombic‐to‐hexagonal phase transition of the geometrically constrained polyethylene sample occurring immediately below the melting point. Another example concerns the structural change in the photoinduced solid‐state polymerization of cis,cis‐diethylmuconate single crystal. From the shifts in the X‐ray reflection position and Raman frequency characteristic of the produced polymer, it was found that the molecular deformation of the polymer chains and lattice strain was induced in the early stage of the polymerization reaction. For the ferroelectric‐phase transition of vinylidene fluoride copolymer, the simultaneous measurement was made for collecting triple information of small‐angle and wide‐angle X‐ray scatterings and Raman spectra to know the relationship between the structural change in the crystal lattice and the morphological change in the lamellar stacking mode. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 495–506, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10112     

Viscometric behaviour of polymer blends based on poly (vinylidene fluoride)

The viscosity behaviour of dilute dimethylformamide solutions of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride)-polystyrene has been studied at 25°C. The polymer concentration ranges are such that neither phase separation nor microgel formation occurs, although we are very close to theta conditions. The intrinsic viscosity and viscosity interaction parameter of the ternary mixtures have been calculated. The estimation of the compatibility of the above polymer pairs has been studied based on: a) specific viscosities; b) viscosity interaction parameters, according to Krigbaum and Wall formalism, and c) viscosity interaction parameters of a system formed by a dilute probe polymer in the presence of a matrix polymer and a small molecule solvent.     

Microhardness measurements of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) polyblends

The preparation of polymer blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) in different weight percentages is described. Vickers microhardness measurements have been made to study the effects of load and compositional ratio of the two polymers in polyblend. It is observed that poly(vinylidene fluoride) acts as a plasticizer for poly(methyl methacrylate). Evidence of increasing and decreasing strength of polyblends has been obtained for different compositional ratios of the two polymers.     

PZT/P(VDF-TrFE)7030 0-3型复合材料的非等温结晶和居里相变行为

采用DSC研究了PZT P(VDF TrFE) 70 30复合材料的非等温结晶和居里相变过程 .结果表明 ,PZT粒子对共聚物基体的结晶行为 ,包括结晶温度、结晶速率和结晶度等影响不大 ;然而共聚物的居里相变过程则受到PZT粒子的影响 ,随PZT粒子含量的增大 ,共聚物基体的居里相变热焓与熔体结晶热焓的比值减小 ,而且其中对应从顺电性的高温相 (HT)转变为铁电性的过冷相 (CL)的相变热焓含量减小 ,意味着PZT粒子的存在能够抑制共聚物铁电晶体中旁式构象缺陷的形成 ,从而提高铁电晶体的完善度     

Molecular Weight Effects on the Reorganization of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride), Polyamide 12, and Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide)

Although reorganization in metastable polymeric crystals has been recognized for over 30 years, the effect of molecular weight on the reorganization process has not been widely investigated. In this work three polymeric systems were studied: poly(vinylidene fluoride), polyamide 12, and poly(p-phenylene sulfide). For the polymers investigated, the lowest molecular weight sample was found to reorganize the most and, conversely, the highest molecular weight sample was found to reorganize the least. Comparisons of each system show that independent of molecular weight the reorganization rates among the three systems could be differentiated with the polyamide showing the greatest reorganization and the poly(phenylene sulfide) the least. Both conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC) were used in this study to investigate the reorganization process. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.