This dissertation discusses results of crystallization kinetic, morphology and
scattering studies on miscible semi crystalline blends of poly(pivalolactone)/
poly(vinylidene fluoride)(pPVLIPVF2) and poly(pivalolactone)/poly(vinylidene fluorideco-
tetrafluoroethylene)(95-5) (PPVL/P(VF2-TFE)(95-5)) prepared by solution blending.
The spherulitic growth rates of the α-phase PPVL from miscible blends with PVF2 or
P(VF2- TFE)(95-5) were measured by polarized optical microscopy as a function of blend
composition and isothermal crystallization temperature, Tx, between 160°C and 215.5°C.
The PPVL weight fraction in the blends ranged from 100 to 10 wt%. Using the Lauritzen-Hoffman
kinetic theory of polymer crystal growth, the equilibrium melting temperatures of
the α-phase PPVL in both the PPVL/PVF2 and the PPVL/P(VF2-TFE)(95-5) blends have
been determined, for the first time, directly from the spherulitic growth rate data. Analysis
of the composition dependence of the nucleation constant, Kg suggests that the α-phase
PPVL crystal/melt lateral interface free energy, σ, in the blends decreases markedly with
increasing PVF2 or P(VF2-TFE)(95-5) concentration.
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