THERMAL-ANALYSIS OF POLY(VINYL FLUORIDE)

A sub-T(m) transition at approximately 50-degrees-C in poly(vinyl fluo ride) has been attributed to a number of physical factors. We have stu died this effect using differential scanning calorimetry. The rate dep endence of the endothermic peak at approximately 50-degrees-C indicate s that it is a second order transition. However, the recovery behavior is time dependent. It is observed in perfect head-to-tail, perfectly linear polymer and thus is not a consequence of head-to-head or tail-t o-tail defects or branch points. The transition appears to be a time d ependent rearrangement of the polymer chains. (C) 1993 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.