Spherulitic formation and characterization of partially fluorinated copolymers and their nanohybrids with functional fillers

Poly[vinylidenefluoride-co-(tetrafluoroethylene)J (P(VDF-TeFE)) exhibited clear spherulitic texture with negative birefringence. The number and growth rates of the spherulites decreased at high crystallization temperature than at low crystallization temperature. Nonetheless, overall larger spherulites were found at high crystallization temperature and the brightness of the spherulites increased very fast at low crystallization temperature, thereafter it seemed as diminution of birefringence. AFM was used to investigate the impact of organo modified nanodiamond(ND) on spherulitic textures, lamellar thickness, and thickness distribution of P(VDF-TeFE) copolymer. Poly[ethylene-co-(tetrafluoroethylene)] (ETFE) also confirmed spherulites structure and the boundaries could be clearly observed. By incorporation of the organo modified nanodiamond (ND) and organo-modified montmorillonite (MMT) in fluropolymer matrix, it was found that spherulitic texture was seriously disordered and their nanohybrids was found only to have poorly developed spherulite structure. Both of the nanohybrids samples show better crystallization temperature as compared to their neat copolymer samples. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanoparticles decreased the size of the spherulites.
INTRODUCTION The enhancement of polymer spherulites from the melt, when observed with a polarized light microscope, is a phenomenon that is really attractive in its beauty and apparent simplicity [1]. [...]