Effect of Ionic Liquid Content on the Crystallization Kinetics and Morphology of Semicrystalline Poly(vinylidene Fluoride)/Ionic Liquid Blends

[EN] The crystallization kinetics of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in blends with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Emim][Cl] has been studied as a function of [Emim][Cl] content up to 40 wt %. Blends were produced by a solvent casting technique from diluted solutions and solvent evaporation at a temperature higher than the melting point of PVDF followed by cooling to room temperature. Polymer phase, morphology, and crystallization behavior were evaluated. When the molten blend was crystallized from the melt, it was observed that [Emim][Cl] induces nucleation of PVDF in the electroactive and highly polar beta-crystalline phase, while pure PVDF crystallizes in the a phase with the same thermal treatments. It is shown that PVDF crystal growth segregates an amorphous phase rich in IL molecules to the surface of the films and that the IL also remains in the spaces between the lamellae or between spherulites as demonstrated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and polarizing optical microscope (POM) images. Differential scanning calorimetry results of isothermal crystallization show the dependence of equilibrium melting temperature and the Avrami exponent with the [Emim][Cl] content.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2020. The authors thank FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT under the Projects PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017, PTDC/EMD-EMD/28159/2017, and PTDC/FIS-MAC/28157/2017. D.M.C. and C.M.C. also thank to the FCT for grants SFRH/BPD/121526/2016 and SFRH/BPD/112547/2015, respectively. Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the Project MAT2016-76039-C4-1 -R (AEI/FEDER, UE) (including the FEDER financial support), from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) through the project PID2019-106099RB-C43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and from the Basque Government Industry and Education Departments under the ELKARTEK, HAZ-ITEK, and PIBA (PIBA-2018-06) programs, respectively, are acknowledged. CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program. CIBER Actions are financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund.Correia, DM.; Costa, CM.; Rodriguez-Hernandez, J.; Tort-Ausina, I.; Teruel Biosca, L.; Torregrosa Cabanilles, C.; Meseguer Dueñas, JM.... (2020). 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