Morphology and Crystallization in Mixtures of Poly(methyl methacrylate)-Poly(pentafluorostyrene)-Poly(methyl methacrylate) Triblock Copolymer and Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

• Published in: Macromolecular research Vol. 17; no. 10; pp. 757 - 762
• Main Authors: Kim, Geon Seok, Kang, Min Sung, Choi, Mi Ju, Kwon, Yong Ku, Lee, Kwang Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg 한국고분자학회 01.10.2009; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter; 고분자공학; crystallization; microdomain structure; Triblock copolymer; blend; triblock copolymer
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03218611

The microdomain structures and crystallization behavior of the binary blends of poly(methyl methacrylate)- b -poly(pentafluorostyrene)- b -poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-PPFS-PMMA) triblock copolymer with a low molecular weight poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), small-angle light scattering (SALS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A symmetric, PMMA-PPFS-PMMA triblock copolymer with a PPFS weight fraction of 33% was blended with PVDF in N,N -dimethylacetamide (DMAc). In the wide range of PVDF concentration between 10.0 and 30.0 wt%, PVDF was completely incorporated within the PMMA microdomains of PMMAPPFS-PMMA without further phase separation on a micrometer scale. The addition of PVDF altered the phase morphology of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA from well-defined lamellar to disordered. The crystallization of PVDF significantly disturbed the domain structure of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA in the blends, resulting in a poorly-ordered morphology. PVDF displayed unique crystallization behavior as a result of the space constraints imposed by the domain structure of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA. The pre-existing microdomain structures restricted the lamellar orientation and favored a random arrangement of lamellar crystallites.