Polymer, Vol.142, 48-51, 2018
Precise inter-lamellar/inter-fibrillar localization and consequent fabrication of porous membranes with crystallization-modulated pore-size
In poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(1,4-butylene succinate) (i.e. PVDF/PBSU) blend, the precise interlamellar or inter-fibrillar localization of PVDF crystal lamellae has been achieved. In the specimen with PVDF 70 wt%, comparable PVDF and PBSU volume fractions result in the inter-lamellar structures. When PVDF acts as the minority phase (PVDF 30 wt%), its crystal lamellae locate between PBSU crystal stacks, accounting for the formation of inter-fibrillar structures. By extracting the continuous PBSU, nanoporous PVDF membranes exhibiting excellent mechanical performance were fabricated. The extractions in the membranes with inter-lamellar and inter-fibrillar structures produce the pores with size of 24 nm and 49 nm, respectively. Our results provide a facile and effective strategy to manipulate pore-size by crystallization template. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.