Inter‐spherulitic/inner‐spherulitic localization of PBSU during crystallization of PVDF in PVDF/PBSU blend

Abstract

In this work, the miscibility effect on the localization of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) during the crystallization of PVDF in their blend has been investigated. After annealed at 200 °C and 240 °C, homogeneous and phase‐separated structures can be obtained respectively, which was followed by isothermal crystallization at 141 °C. In the case of 200°C, PBSU tends to enrich in inner‐spherulitic regions because of the excellent miscibility of the blend and the higher growth rate of PVDF crystals. When the specimen was annealed at 240 °C, phase separation produces PVDF and PBSU domains. Upon cooling to 141 °C, one part of PBSU is miscible with , while the other part of it remains as phase‐separated domains due to the high viscosity and slow relaxation of them. The former accounts for the distribution of PBSU in inner‐spherulitic regions. In the latter, however, phase‐separated structures depress the diffusion of PVDF during its crystallization, leading to the lower magnitude of growth rate of spherulites. Both of them contribute to the localization of PBSU in inter‐spherulitic regions. The distribution of PBSU among PVDF spherulites has been validated by long periods, pore size, and mechanical performance of the porous PVDF membranes.

A facile strategy to fabricate skin‐free porous polymer membranes based on sandwich structure

“…Upon etching with chloroform (the selective solvent for PEI), PEI can be removed, yielding porous PEEK membranes. Similar crystallization‐induced porous structures have been investigated in detail in our previous publications 25–31 . As for the places near the edges of the membrane, the surface dense layers (skin layer) exist there (Figure 2C).…”

“…Similar crystallization-induced porous structures have been investigated in detail in our previous publications. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] As for the places near the edges of the membrane, the surface dense layers (skin layer) exist there (Figure 2C). It is facile to estimate the thickness of skin layer in the SEM images of cross-section.…”