CO2‐delayed crystallization of isotactic polypropylene: A kinetic study

The effect of CO₂ on the nonisothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied with high‐pressure differential scanning calorimetry at cooling rates of 0.2–5 °C/min. CO₂ significantly delayed the melt crystallization of iPP, and both the crystallization temperature and the heat of crystallization decreased with increasing CO₂ pressure. The crystallization rate of iPP, as characterized by the half‐time, was also prolonged by the presence of CO₂. With a modified Ozawa model developed by Seo, the Avrami crystallization exponent n of iPP was calculated. This value was depressed by the addition of CO₂ and was strongly dependent on the CO₂ pressure at low cooling rates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1518–1525, 2003     

Effect of cosolvent on solid phase transitions of α‐ to β‐form crystal of syndiotactic polystyrene occurred in supercritical Co2 containing solvent

The solid phase transition mechanism of α‐ to β‐form crystal upon specific treating with supercritical CO₂ + cosolvent on original pure α and mixed (α+β) form syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) was investigated, using wide angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements as a function of temperature, pressure, and cosolvent content. As in the supercritical CO₂, sPS in supercritical CO₂ + cosolvent underwent solid phase transitions from α‐ to β‐form, and higher temperature or higher pressure favored this transformation. Due to the higher dipole moment of acetone, small amounts of acetone used as cosolvent with CO₂ made the transition of α‐ to β‐form occur at lower temperature and pressure than in supercritical CO₂, and made the α‐form crystal completely transform to β‐form in the original mixed (α+β) form, whereas ethanol did not. The original β‐form crystal in the original mixed (α+β) form sample acted as the nucleus of new β‐form crystal in the presence of cosolvent as it did in supercritical CO₂, when compared with the original pure α‐form sample. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1625–1636, 2007     

Compressed‐gas‐induced crystallization in tert‐butyl poly(ether ether ketone)

tert‐Butyl‐substituted poly(ether ether ketone) (tBuPEEK), which does not undergo crystallization with thermal annealing, crystallizes readily when treated with compressed CO₂. The dissolved CO₂ causes a reduction in the glass‐transition temperature of the polymer–gas system and enhances the chain mobility of the macromolecules, thereby bringing about crystallization. In the presence of CO₂, crystallization is increasingly favored with increasing CO₂ pressure and treatment temperature. The melting point of tBuPEEK crystals increases linearly with the CO₂ pressure applied in the treatment, indicating an increase in the order and/or size of the crystals. The extent of crystallinity increases when small amounts of methanol or dichloromethane are used as a cosolute with CO₂. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1505–1512, 2001     

Long‐chain‐branched polyethene by the copolymerization of ethene and nonconjugated α,ω‐dienes

Ethene was copolymerized (1) with 1,5‐hexadiene with rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (MAO) used as a catalyst and (2) with 1,7‐octadiene with bis(n‐butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO and rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)hafnium dichloride (Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂)/MAO used as catalysts at 80 °C in toluene. The copolymer microstructure and the influence of diene incorporation on the rheological properties were examined. Ethene and 1,5‐hexadiene formed a copolymer in which a major fraction of the 1,5‐hexadiene was incorporated into rings and a small fraction formed 1‐butenyl branches. The copolymerization of ethene with 1,7‐octadiene resulted in a higher selectivity toward branch formation. Some of the branches formed long‐chain‐branching (LCB) structures. The ring formation selectivity increased with decreasing ethene concentration in the polymerization reactor. Melt rheological properties of the diene copolymers resembled those of metallocene‐catalyzed LCB homopolyethenes and depended on the vinyl content, the catalyst, and the polymerization conditions. At high diene contents, all three catalysts produced crosslinked polyethene. This was especially pronounced with Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂, where only 0.2 mol % 1,7‐octadiene in the copolymer was required to achieve significantly modified rheological properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3805–3817, 2001     

Isothermal crystallization behavior of exfoliated‐PP/IMMT nanocomposites via in situ polymerization

Highly exfoliated isotactic‐polypropylene/alkyl‐imidazolium modified montmorillonite (PP/IMMT) nanocomposites have been prepared via in situ intercalative polymerization. TEM and XRD results indicated that the obtained composites were highly exfoliated PP/IMMT nanocomposites and the average thickness of IMMT in PP matrix was less than 10 nm, and the distance between adjacent IMMT particles was in the range of 20–200 nm. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of highly exfoliated PP/IMMT nanocomposites were investigated by using differential scanning calorimeter(DSC) and polarized optical microscope (POM). The crystallization half‐time t_1/2, crystallization peak time t_max, and the Avrami crystallization rate constant K_n showed that the nanosilicate layers accelerate the overall crystallization rate greatly due to the nucleation effect, and the crystallization rate was increased with the increase in MMT content. Meanwhile, the crystallinity of PP in nanocomposites decreased with the increase in clay content which indicated the PP chains were confined by the nanosilicate layers during the crystallization process. Although the well‐dispersed silicate layers did not have much influence on spherulites growth rate, the nucleation rate and the nuclei density increased significantly. Accordingly, the spherulite size decreased with the increase in MMT content. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2215–2225, 2009     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene latex–based nanocomposites with organo‐modified clay

The effect of organo‐modified clay (Cloisite 93A) on the crystal structure and isothermal crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in iPP/clay nanocomposites prepared by latex technology was investigated by wide angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. The X‐ray diffraction results indicated that the higher clay loading promotes the formation of the β‐phase crystallites, as evidenced by the appearance of a new peak corresponding to the (300) reflection of β‐iPP. Analysis of the isothermal crystallization showed that the PP nanocomposite (1% C93A) exhibited higher crystallization rates than the neat PP. The unfilled iPP matrix and nanocomposites clearly shows double melting behavior; the shape of the melting transition progressively changes toward single melting with increasing crystallization temperature. The fold surface free energy (σ_e) of polymer chains in the nanocomposites was lower than that in the PP latex (PPL). It should be reasonable to treat C93A as a good nucleating agent for the crystallization of PPL, which plays a determinant effect on the reduction in σ_e during the isothermal crystallization of the nanocomposites. The activation energy, ΔE_a, decreased with the incorporation of clay nanoparticles into the matrix, which in turn indicates that the nucleation process is facilitated by the presence of clay. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1927–1938, 2010     

Morphology control of polypropylene by crystallization under carbon dioxide

We investigated the crystalline morphology of isotactic polypropylene obtained by melt crystallization under carbon dioxide (CO₂) at various pressures. Spherulites consisting of regularly arranged fibrils without subsidiary lamellae were obtained by crystallization under CO₂ below 2 MPa, whereas large spherulites consisting of irregularly arranged fibrils with subsidiary lamellae were obtained under ambient pressure. Distorted domain crystals with uniform optical anisotropy consisting of α‐form were found to be obtained under CO₂ above 2 MPa, and needle crystals consisting of γ‐form were obtained above 12 MPa. Transmission electron micrographs showed that straight and thick lamellae are regularly arranged in both the distorted domain crystals and the needle crystals. The uniformly thick lamellae were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry thermograms; that is, the melting temperature is higher and the melting peak is sharper than those obtained under ambient pressure. Such characteristic crystalline morphologies obtained under CO₂ may be attributed to local ordering in the melt state. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2738–2746, 2004     

α‐keto‐β‐diimine nickel‐catalyzed olefin polymerization: Effect of ortho‐aryl substituents and preparation of stereoblock copolymers

A series of α‐keto‐β‐diimine nickel complexes (Ar‐N = C(CH₃)‐C(O)‐C(CH₃)=N‐Ar)NiBr₂; Ar = 2,6‐R‐C₆H₃‐, R = Me, Et, iPr, and Ar = 2,4,6‐Me₃‐C₆H₃‐) was prepared. All corresponding ligands are unstable even under an inert atmosphere and in a freezer. Stable copper complex intermediates of ligand synthesis and ethyl substituted nickel complex were isolated and characterized by X‐ray. All nickel complexes were used for the polymerization of ethene, propylene, and hex‐1‐ene to investigate their livingness and the extent of chain‐walking. Low‐temperature propene polymerization with less bulky ortho‐substituents was less isospecific than the one with isopropyl derivative. Propene stereoblock copolymers were prepared by iPr derivative combining the polymerization at low temperature to prepare isotactic polypropylene (PP) block and at a higher temperature, supporting chain‐walking, to obtain amorphous regioirregular PP block. Alternatively, a copolymerization of propene with ethene was used for the preparation of amorphous block. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2440–2449     

Formation of β‐iPP in isotactic polypropylene/ethylene–propylene rubber blends: Effects of preparation method,composition, and thermal condition

The effects of preparation method, composition, and thermal condition on formation of β‐iPP in isotactic polypropylene/ethylene–propylene rubber (iPP/EPR) blends were studied using modulated differential scanning calorimeter (MDSC), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). It was found that the α‐iPP and β‐iPP can simultaneity form in the melt‐blended samples, whereas only α‐iPP exists in the solution‐blended samples. The results show that the formation of β‐iPP in the melt‐blended samples is related to the crystallization temperature and the β‐iPP generally diminishes and finally vanishes when the crystallization temperature moves far from 125 °C. The phenomena that the lower critical temperature of β‐iPP in iPP/EPR obviously increases to 114 °C and the upper critical temperature decreases to 134 °C indicate the narrowing of temperature interval, facilitating the formation of β‐iPP in iPP/EPR. Furthermore, it was found that the amount of β‐iPP in melt‐blended iPP/EPR samples is dependent on the composition and the maximum amount of β‐iPP formed when the composition of iPP/EPR blends is 85:15 in weight. The results through examining the effect of annealing for iPP/EPR samples at melt state indicate that this annealing may eliminate the susceptibility to β‐crystallization of iPP. However, only α‐iPP can be observed in solution‐blended samples subjected to annealing for different time. The PCM images demonstrate that an obvious phase‐separation happens in both melt‐blended and solution‐blended iPP/EPR samples, implying that compared with the disperse degree of EPR in iPP, the preparation method plays a dominant role in formation of β‐iPP. It is suggested that the origin of formation of β‐iPP results from the thermomechanical history of the EPR component in iPP/EPR. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1704–1712, 2007     

Exclusion effect of carbon dioxide on the crystallization of polypropylene

We investigated the crystallization growth of isotactic polypropylene under carbon dioxide (CO₂) at various CO₂ pressures and temperatures by in situ observation with a digital high‐fidelity microscope and a specially designed high‐pressure visualized cell. The fibrils within the spherulite were distorted and branched by crystallization under CO₂ at pressures higher than 2 MPa, and this suggested the exclusion of CO₂ from the growth front of the fibrils. The spherulite growth rate (G) at 140 °C increased with the CO₂ pressure, attained a maximum value around 0.3 MPa, and then decreased. Above 6 MPa, it became slower than that under air at the ambient pressure. An analysis of the crystallization kinetics by the Hoffman–Lauritzen theory revealed that the pressure dependence of G could be ascribed to the change in the transportation rate of crystallizable molecules (β_g) with pressure; that is, β_g increased and then decreased with pressure. The increase in β_g at a low pressure was caused by the plasticizing effect of CO₂, whereas the decrease in β_g at a high pressure was due to the exclusion of CO₂ from the crystal growth front. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1565–1572, 2004     

Effect of the γ‐form crystal on the thermal fractionation of poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene)

The effect of the γ‐form crystal on the thermal fractionation of a commercial poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene) (PPE) has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) techniques. Two thermal fractionation techniques, stepwise isothermal crystallization (SIC) and successive self‐nucleation and annealing (SSA), have been used to characterize the molecular heterogeneity of the PPE. The results indicate that the SSA technique possesses a stronger fractionation ability than that of the SIC technique. The heating scan of the SSA fractionated sample exhibits 12 endothermic peaks, whereas the scan of the SIC fractionated sample only shows eight melting peaks. The WAXD observations of the fractionated PPE samples prove that the content of the γ‐form crystals formed during the thermal treatment of the SIC technique is much higher than that of the SSA treatment. The former is 57.4%, whereas the later is 12.6%. The effect of theγ‐form crystals on thermal fractionation ability is discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4320–4325, 2004     

Cold crystallization and postmelting crystallization of PLA plasticized by compressed carbon dioxide

The cold crystallization at temperature T_cc (melting > T_cc > glass transition) and the postmelting crystallization of polylactic acid plasticized by compressed carbon dioxide (CO₂) were studied using a high-pressure differential scanning calorimeter. The kinetics of the two kinds of crystallization were evaluated by the Avrami equation as a function of pressure at certain temperatures. The effects of using talc as a nucleation agent on the two types of crystallization under pressure were also investigated. The results show that compressed CO₂ increased the mobility of the polymer chains in solid state, resulting in an increased rate of cold crystallization. The decreased rate of postmelting crystallization was mainly in the nucleation-controlled region, which indicates that the number of nuclei was decreased by the compressed CO₂. The growth rate of the two crystallization types followed the Avrami equation, but the kinetics of each depended upon temperature and pressure. The inclusion of talc accelerated postmelting crystallization but had little effect on cold crystallization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2630–2636, 2008     

Multianvil‐Synthese,Pulver‐Röntgenstrukturanalyse, 31P‐MAS‐NMR‐ und FTIR‐Spektroskopie sowie Materialeigenschaften von γ‐P3N5, einer Hochdruckphase von binärem Phosphor(V)‐nitrid mit verzerrt quadratischen PN5‐Pyramiden und PN4‐Tetraedern

Multianvil Synthesis, X‐ray Powder Diffraction Analysis, ³¹P‐MAS‐NMR, and FTIR Spektroscopy as well as Material Properties of γ‐P₃N₅, a High‐Pressure Polymorph of Binary Phosphorus(V) Nitride, Built up from Distorted PN₅ Square Pyramids and PN₄ Tetrahedra The high‐pressure phase γ‐P₃N₅ was synthesized at a pressure of 11 GPa and a temperature of 1500 °C in a multianvil apparatus. Partially crystalline P₃N₅ has been used as a starting material. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods on the basis of X‐ray powder diffraction data and it was refined by the Rietveld method (Imm2, a = 1287.21(4), b = 261.312(6), c = 440.03(2) pm, Z = 2, R_p = 0.073, wR_p = 0.094, R_F = 0.048). γ‐phosphorus nitride crystallizes in a three‐dimensional network structure built up from corner sharing PN₄ tetrahedra and trans‐edge sharing distorted PN₅ square pyramids. In the ³¹P‐MAS‐NMR spectrum two sharp isotropic resonances with an intensity ratio of 1 : 2.02(5) are observed at —11.95(3) and —101.72(7) ppm, respectively. The IR‐spectroscopic and thermal properties of γ‐P₃N₅ are described. Measurement of the Vickers hardness resulted in a value of 9.7(21) GPa for sintered polycrystalline γ‐P₃N₅, which is significantly higher than that for the partially crystalline normal pressure modification of P₃N₅ (5.1(7) GPa).     

The copolymerization of propylene with higher,linear α‐olefins

Propylene was copolymerized with the linear α‐olefins 1‐octene, 1‐decene, 1‐tetradecene, and 1‐octadecene. The metallocene catalyst Me₂Si(2‐Me Benz[e]Ind)₂ZrCl₂, in conjunction with methylalumoxane as a cocatalyst, was used to synthesize the copolymers. The copolymers were characterized by ¹³C and ¹H NMR with a solvent mixture of 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene (TCB) and benzene‐d₆ (9/1) at 100 °C. Thermal analyses were carried out to determine the melting and crystallization temperatures, whereas the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography with TCB at 140 °C. Glass‐transition temperatures were determined with dynamic mechanical analysis. Relationships among the comonomer type and amount of incorporation and the melting/crystallization temperatures, glass‐transition temperature, crystallinity, and molecular weight were established. Moreover, up to 3.5% of the comonomer was incorporated, and there was a decrease in the molecular weight with increased comonomer content. Also, the melting and crystallization temperatures decreased as the comonomer content increased, but this relationship was independent of the comonomer type. In contrast, the values for the glass‐transition temperature also decreased with increased comonomer content, but the extent of the decrease was dependent on the comonomer type. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4110–4118, 2000     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of PP in PP/Mg(OH)2 composites

The crystallization and melting behavior of PP/Mg(OH)₂ composites was investigated, and the crystallization kinetic parameters and thermal characteristics were investigated according to the Avrami method. Optical polarizing microscope (POM) analysis suggested that the presence of Mg(OH)₂ particles gave rise to an increase in the number of nuclei and a decrease in PP spherulitic size. The Avrami exponent n of the PP and composites increased with increasing crystallization temperature, and markedly deceased with the addition of low Mg(OH)₂ content. A significant increase in crystallization kinetic constant, and a decrease in crystallization half time of PP were observed in the presence of Mg(OH)₂ particles, indicating a heterogeneous nucleating effect of Mg(OH)₂ upon crystallization of PP. The melting temperature and equilibrium melting temperature of PP in the composites decreased with increasing the Mg(OH)₂ content, which is directly related to the size of the PP crystals. The difference of PP melting enthalpies in the PP and composites demonstrated that the presence of Mg(OH)₂ can effectively enhance the crystalline of PP. The crystallization thermodynamics of PP and composites were studied according to the Hoffman theory. Surface free energy of PP chain folding for crystallization of PP/Mg(OH)₂ composites was lower than that of PP, confirming the heterogeneous nucleation effect of Mg(OH)₂. However, the evaluation of the nucleation activation energy of PP suggested the presence of a large amount of Mg(OH)₂ particles in the PP matrix reduced the mobility of PP segments and restricted the development of PP nucleation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1914–1923, 2005     

Synthesis of polyarylacetylenes by γ‐ray‐induced polymerization of terminal alkynes. Nanostructures of ortho‐substituted derivatives

Terminal aryl alkynes RC₆H₄C?CH with substituents of different electronic properties and ring position (R = H, 4‐CF₃, 4‐OMe, 2‐CF₃, 2‐OMe, 2‐Me) were exposed to γ‐radiation (50–400 kGy) in organic solvents (hexane, 1,4‐dioxane, ethylacetate, methanol, tetrahydrofuran), at room temperature. The effects arising from substituent, solvent, dilution, and radiation dose allowed to define the conditions suitable for polymerization, which was favored in methanol at increasing dilution of the alkyne. Ortho‐substitution represented the key structural element in the substrate, and the derived polyarylacetylenes were characterized in detail, including gel permeation chromatography, thermal analysis, infrared, NMR, UV–vis, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscope spectroscopy. The results are consistent with the formation of irregular polymers mainly composed of trans‐transoid chains. Controlled aggregation of the polymers by means of an osmosis‐based procedure in solvent/non‐solvent mixtures allowed the formation of nanostructured materials, in particular of hollow nanospheres from THF/water. The methodology sets the basis for the development of γ‐rays‐induced polymerization of alkynes, in a transition metal catalyst‐free environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Copolymerization of propylene with higher α‐olefins in the presence of the syndiospecific catalyst i‐Pr(Cp)(9‐Flu)ZrCl2/MAO

The catalyst system i‐Pr(Cp)(9‐Flu)ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane was used for the synthesis of random syndiotactic copolymers of propylene with 1‐hexene, 1‐dodecene, and 1‐octadecene as comonomers. An investigation of the microstructure by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed that the stereoregularity of the copolymers decreased because of an increase in skipped insertions in the presence of the higher 1‐olefin. The melting temperature of the copolymers, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), decreased linearly with increasing comonomer content independently of the comonomer nature. During the DSC heating cycle, an exothermic peak indicating a crystallization process was observed. The decrease in the crystallization temperature with higher 1‐olefin content, measured by crystallization analysis fractionation, indicated a small but significant dependence on the nature of the comonomer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 128–140, 2002     

Nucleation effect of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes on the crystallization of isotactic poly(1‐butene)

The β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD) inclusion complexes (ICs) with four kinds of polyolefin were prepared. The crystallization behavior of isotactic poly(1‐butene) (iPB‐1) blended with these CDs and ICs was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The iPB‐1 blended with the ICs was found to exhibit higher crystallization temperature (T_C), smaller spherulites, and faster crystallization rate than neat iPB‐1. These results indicate that the ICs can act as nucleating agent on the crystallization of iPB‐1 and induce the accelerated crystallization. The guest molecules of ICs play an important role in the nucleation effect of ICs on the crystallization of iPB‐1. ICs with polyolefin having higher T_C as guest molecules have higher nucleation effect than the one with polyolefin having lower T_C as guest molecules. And, the CDs and ICs induce different crystal form of iPB‐1. The crystal of iPB‐1 blended with CDs is defective, whereas the crystal of iPB‐1 blended with ICs is more perfect. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 389–395, 2010     

Preparation of CO2‐switchable latexes using N‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]‐methacrylamide (DMAPMAm)

CO₂‐switchable polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) latexes were prepared via surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) under a CO₂ atmosphere, employing N‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMAm) as a CO₂‐switchable, water‐soluble, and hydrolytically stable comonomer. The conversion of the SFEP of styrene reaches >95% in less than 5 h. The resulting latexes have near monodisperse particles (PDI ≤ 0.05), as confirmed by DLS and TEM. The latexes could be destabilized by bubbling nitrogen (N₂) and heating at 65 °C for 30 min, and easily redispersed by only bubbling CO₂ for a short time without using sonication. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1059–1066     

Thin poly(ionic liquid) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) blend films with ferro‐ and piezo‐electric polar γ‐crystals

Ferro‐ and piezo‐electric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin film is reported to be obtained by using a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) [poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) methyl chloride quaternary salt] through solution route. The short range interactions between localized cationic ions of PIL and polar >CF₂ of PVDF are responsible for modified polar γ‐PVDF (T₃GT₃Ḡ) formation. Modification in chain conformation of PVDF is confirmed by FTIR, XRD, and DSC studies suggesting the miscible PVDF–PIL (PPIL) blend. Up to 40 wt % loading of PIL in PVDF matrix enhances relative intensity of γ‐phase up to 50% in the entire crystalline phase. The P‐E hysteresis loop of PVDF‐PIL blends at 25 wt % PIL loading (PPIL‐25) thin film at sweep voltage of ±50 V shows excellent ferroelectric property with nearly saturated high remnant polarization ∼6.0 µC cm⁻² owing to large proportion of γ‐PVDF. However, non‐polar pure PVDF thin film shows unsaturated hysteresis loop with 1.4 µC cm⁻² remnant polarization. The operation voltage decreases effectively because of the polar γ‐phase formation in PPIL blended film. High‐sensitivity piezo‐response force microscopy shows electromechanical switching property at low voltages in PPIL‐25 thin films through local switching measurements, making them potentially suitable as ferroelectric tunnel barriers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 795–802