Abstract
The crystallization of perfluorinated polymers in the presence of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particle as nucleator was studied. Spherulitic textures of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-[perfluoroalkyl vinylether] (PFA) were examined in detail using polarized optical microscopy(POM). The PFA consisting of random comonomer units among the tetrafluoroethylene units crystallizes as spherulites composed of lamellae, although polytetrafluoroethylene usually forms extended-chain crystals (ECC) because of the rigid nature of 13/6 helices. The PFA spherulites obtained exhibit positive birefringence since the polymer crystal has a larger refractive index in the direction normal to the chain than that along it. Nucleator effect by adding PTEF particle induces PFA to rise a crystallization temperature. From the results of POM and atomic force microscopy (AFM), it is found that PFA particle become minute. These phenomena bring about epitaxial growth of polymer chain of PFA from nuleator surface.
https://ror.org/00xy44n04 
