Microstructure and properties of solvent-resistant fluorine-contained thermoplastic vulcanizates prepared through dynamic vulcanization

•We prepared fluorine-contained thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV).•The effect of dynamic vulcanization was studied.•We developed suitable curing system and blend ratio for the fluorine-contained TPV.•TPVs had better solvent resistance than neat fluoroelastomer vulcanizates.•Dynamic vulcanization resulted in better dispersion of rubber phase in matrix.

Authors believe that two aspects of this manuscript will make it interesting to general readers of the journal “Materials & Design”. First, in this manuscript we report for the first time that a new fluorine-contained thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) was successfully prepared through dynamic vulcanization. Our results indicated that the dispersion of FKM particles in PVDF matrix and the mechanical properties of TPVs were significantly improved after dynamic vulcanization. The tensile strength of PVDF/FKM (50/50) blends increased from 16.2 to 33.5 MPa, by about 107%; while elongation at break increased from 125.6% to 468.9%, by 2.7 times after dynamic vulcanization. Second, it was found that the solvent resistant properties of the prepared TPVs are better than the traditional compression molded FKM vulcanizates. The approach proposed here provides a viable technological alternative for the cost-effective preparation of fluorine-contained TPVs with superior properties to substitute present FKM vulcanizates which are difficult to recycle.

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