Evolution of molecular structure of a dehydrofluorinated poly(vinylidene fluoride) film during its aging

FTIR spectra of a dehydrofluorinated poly(vinylidene fluoride) film were registered at different stages of its aging. A number of spectral features were noticed to grow with the sample aging. Three of them were assigned to the stretching vibrations of triple carbon-carbon bonds. Other bands were assigned to the libration, stretching, and combination vibrations of embedded water clusters consisting of 4, 5, or 6 molecules. The mechanism explaining synchronous formation of triple carbon-carbon bonds and small water clusters in the sample during its aging is proposed. SEM data on the surface morphology of the sample confirm the proposed mechanism.