Nano-organization of Triblock Fluorocopolymer

Abstract

Triblock fluorocopolymer (terpolymer) is characterized by two levels of nano-organization. According to the X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy data, these levels of organization undergo changes induced by phase transitions. The first level of organization is formed mainly by nanostructures with sizes of 1.5–2 nm, whereas the predominant size of nanostructures at the second level of organization is ~40 nm according to small-angle X-ray scattering data. In particular, three types of nanostructures with sizes of 1.5, 56, and 130 nm and average interplanar distances of  5.11, 3.55, and 7.14 Å, respectively, formed in the terpolymer within 20 min at 170°С, which is ~120°С higher than the viscous flow temperature of the terpolymer. An increase in the time of thermal treatment to 90 min leads to a change in the structural parameters of nanostructures mainly of the last two types. The temperature-induced changes of the thermal expansion coefficient, the rigidity, and the mechanical loss tangent of the terpolymer are determined by the specific features of the complex nano-organization of the polymer.