Effects of Electrostatic Field Intensity on Crystal Structure and Morphology of PVDF Fibers and Films

Abstract

Samples of melt-cast films and melt-spun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fibers were treated at various electrostatic field intensities. Their crystal structure and morphologies were investigated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that, the electrostatic field did not affect the crystal structure of PVDF fiber, but the crystal orientation was obviously changed. The crystals along the direction of electrostatic field became thick. The crystal orientation of the film, which was obtained by melting and crystallizing PVDF under an electrostatic field, was changed along the direction of electrostatic field. The crystal orientation was the same as the direction of the electrostatic field, but their structures were much more compact. The dipole moment was along the direction of the electrostatic field after the fiber or film had been treated in the electrostatic field