Structure and characterization of poly[(vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoropropene]-(dibutyl phthalate) blends

Blends of poly[(vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoropropene] with dibutyl pht halate were examined by wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering, differentia l scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, in order to stu dy the influence of amount of plasticizer and the crystallization rate on t he crystallinity and lamellar morphology of the copolymer. The dibutyl phthalate seems, at least for the cooling and heating rates use d, simply to dilute the crystalline phase without affecting the amount of p olymer that is able to crystallize. Furthermore, the small-angle X-ray scat tering technique points out that the plasticizer mostly enters the amorphou s phase either outside or inside the lamellar stacks. (C) 2001 Society of C hemical Industry.