Mechanochemical degradation of poly(vinyl fluoride) by sodium hydroxide measured by microindentation

The degradation of the mechanical properties of deformed PVDF during its mechanochemical ageing in sodium hydroxide (soda) was followed by microindentation measurements, especially the local reduction of the elastic modulus and the hardness. This allows measurements on a local scale of the mechanical properties on the surface and in-depth as a function of the strain level and the ageing time. Microindentation tests with Berkovich indenter have been performed with a Nanoindenter XP® (MTS). Measurements are made at penetration depth less than 2 μm for an applied load of 10 mN. During ageing in soda (Ph 14) at 90 °C up to 16 days, various deformations e (0, 22 and 38%) are imposed on PVDF tensile specimen. For the first two imposed deformations (e = 0 and e = 22%), mechanical degradation is limited to some percent (less than 7%). For the greatest deformation (e = 38%), mechanical degradation continues to decrease with ageing time (more than 21%). Microindentation tests show that a range of low deformations exists in which the mechanochemical degradation is limited and no limitation is observed for larger imposed deformation.