Dynamic light scattering study of the ultrasonication of P(VDF-TrFE): A new model

The purpose of this paper is to understand the mechanisms occurring during the ultrasonication of the copolymer poly(vinylidenedifluoride-trifluoroethylene). In these experimental conditions, the polymer adopts a core–shell structure and its hydrodynamic diameter is measured by dynamic light scattering. The results show that, without covalent bonds breakage, the hydrodynamic diameter decreases with ultrasonication time and a smaller size population appears. This evolution is reversible in a matter of days. A new two-step mechanism is proposed to describe this phenomenon: first the erosion of a core–shell structure and second the contraction of the core. Beyond shedding a new light on the phenomena occurring during the sonication of polymers used in nanocomposites elaboration, this work also strongly questions the traditional techniques used to study the degradation of polymers, which use the hydrodynamic diameter measurement to determine the molecular weight.