On the gelation rate of thermoreversible poly(vinylidene fluoride) gels in glyceryl tributyrate

Abstract

The gelation rate of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂)/glyceryl tributyrate (GTB) system has been measured. It has been analysed with the help of an equation which contains φⁿ and f(T) term where φ is a reduced overlapping concentration and n is analogous to the percolation exponent β in a three-dimensional lattice. f(T) is related to the temperature function of the coil-to-helix transition. Analysis of the gelation rates supports that the three-dimensional percolation is a suitable mechanism in this gelation process and it also indicates that the gelation is caused by coil-to-helix transition followed by their association.