Theory of Structural Phase Transitions in Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)

Abstract

The statistical mechanics of the polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) are studied by means of a formalism in which interchain and intrachain forces derived from conformational analysis are combined in a transfer-integral approach through a mean-field approximation. The theory is successful in yielding several observed phases of this material and in predicting the effect of uniaxial stress on the most stable phase.