Low frequency ac conduction and dielectric relaxation behavior of solution grown and uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) films

The measurements of ac conductivity [σm(ω)], dielectric constant [ɛ′(ω)] and loss [ɛ″(ω)] have been performed on solution grown (thickness ∼85 μm) and uniaxially stretched (thickness ∼25, 45 and 80 μm) films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in the frequency range 0.1 kHz-10 MHz and in the temperature range 77-400 K. The σm(ω) can be described by the relation σ(ω) = Aωs, where s is close to unity and decreases with increase in temperature. Three relaxations, observed in the present investigation, have been designated as the αc-, the αa- and the β-relaxations appearing from high temperature side to the low temperature side. The αc-relaxation could not be observed in the case of uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) films. The αc- and αa-relaxations are associated with the molecular motions in the crystalline regions and micro-Brownian motion in the amorphous regions of the main polymer chain, respectively, whereas the β-relaxation is attributed to the rotation of side group dipoles or to the local oscillations of the frozen main polymer chain.