Solution properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride): 1. Macromolecular characterization of soluble samples

Abstract Dissolution in a range of solvents reveals two kinds of behaviour of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF): readily soluble samples (mostly suspension-polymerized) and partly gel-forming samples (mostly emulsion-polymerized). From molecular characterization of a number of industrial and laboratory samples of the first kind in solution in different solvents by light scattering, intrinsic viscosity and size exclusion chromatography, we derive unperturbed dimensions and χ parameters. Our results differ from previous measurements where light-scattering experiments were carried out in solvents with very low d n d c and/or on less-soluble (second-kind) PVDF, where microgel formation cannot be avoided.