Composition dependent phase transformation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in its miscible blends upon stretching

Abstract

This study reports the phase transformation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in its miscible blends with poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P34HB) upon stretching. The original α-form of the PVDF component in the blends is converted into the β-form by stretching, which is decreased with the increasing P34HB content. Moreover, α → β transformation of the PVDF component in the blends exhibits a sharp transition at the P34HB content of about 15 wt%. It is correlated with composition dependent dissolution and crystallization of the P34HB component in the amorphous phase of the PVDF component.