Physical and optical properties of PMMA/PVDF blends

Blends of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) were prepared by melt mixing and investigated for optical waveguide devices by using hot embossing process. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the blends were decreased with increasing PVDF contents. However, the crystalline of PMMA/PVDF blends was not appeared by DSC and XRD due to miscibility between PMMA and PVDF. Shear viscosities and refractive indices of the blends were decreased with increasing PVDF contents. Optical transmittances and absorption losses of the blends were improved with increasing PVDF contents. This is due to a decreasing of polarizability of molecules by fluorine molecule in the PVDF.