NUCLEATION AND GROWTH ACTIVATION ENERGIES DURING CRYSTALLIZATION OF AMORPHOUS ALLOYS (Ⅰ)——CALCULATION METHOD

A new method is developed for the determination of activation energies for nucleation(E_n) and for growth of nuclei (E_g) during crystallization of amorphous alloys. This methodis based on the crystallization kinetics theory and the experimental results of the variationrelationships of local activation energy E_c(x) and local Avrami exponent n(x) with the crys-tallized volume fraction (x) during crystallization of an amorphous Ni--P alloy. Calculationresults of E_n and E_g in tbe case of crystallization of the amorphous Ni--P alloy by thismethod show that this method is not only simple in the experimental procedures, but alsoaccurate in the quantitative results.     

ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF RADIUS OF GYRATION OF CHAINS IN THE MELT IN THE CRYSTALIZATION OF POLY(1-BUTENE)

Crystallization in polymer systems actually is a process that transfers the entangled melts into a semi-crystallinelayered structure. Whether or not a chain disentangles may result in different crystallization mechanism. When compared tothe crystal thickness (d_c), the volume occupied by the chain in the melt, i.e., the radius of gyration (R_g), plays a veryimportant role in polymer crystallization. When d_c≤R_g, crystallization does not necessitate a chain disentangling. Theentanglements are just shifted into the amorphous regions. However, as d_c>R_g, i.e., as the crystal thickness ges larger thanthe radius of gyration of the chain in the melt, it becomes necessary for a chain to disentangle. Then a change ofcrystallization mechanism occurs. Such change has been experimentally observed in the crystallization of poly(1-butene). Achange in the crystal morphologies from spherulite to quadrangle, is seen via PLM, as crystalliation temperatures increase.Even more, such a change is molecular weigh dependent and shifts to lower temperature as molecular weigh decreases.There exists a jump of crystal thickness and crystallinity associated with morphological change, as seen via SAXS. A changeof crystallization kinetics and crystallinity is further evidenced via dilatometry. The unique feature of P1b crystallization hasbeen discussed based on the radius of gyration of chain in the melt (R_g), and very good agreement is obtained.     

CRYSTALLIZATION AND MELTING OF NYLON 610

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the crystallization andmelting of nylon 610. For nylon 610 crystallized from the melt state (260℃), the overall rateof bulk crystallization can be described by a simple Avrami equation with Avrami exponentn ≈ 2, independent of crystallization temperature. With the experimentally obtainedT_m~0 (235℃ ～ 255℃) of nylon 610, the fold surface free energy σ_e was determined to be35 ～38 erg/cm~2. The effects of annealing temperature and time on the melting of quenchednylon 610 were also investigated. For nylon 610 quenched at room temperature there isonly one DSC endotherm peak DSC scans on annealed samples exhibited an endothermpeak at approximately 10℃ above the annealing temperature. The size and position of theendothermic peak is strongly related to annealing temperature and time. An additionalthird melting was observed when quenched nylon 610 was annealed at high temperaturefor a sufficiently long residence time. The existence of the third melting peak suggests thatmore than one kind of distribution of lamella thickness may occur when quenched nylon610 is annealed. The implications of these results in terms of crystal thickening mechanismwere discussed.     

IN SITU OBSERVATION OF MELTING AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIORS OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE) ULTRA-THIN FILMS BY AFM TECHNIQUE

The melting and crystallization behaviors of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) ultra-thin films with thickness from 15 nm to 8 nm were studied by AFM technique equipped with a hot-stage in real-time. It was found that melting can erase the spherulitic structure for polymer film with high thickness. However, annealing above the melting point can not completely erase the tree-like structure for the thinner polymer film. Generally, the structure formation of thin polymer films of PCL is controlled not only by melting and crystallization but also by dewetting during thermal annealing procedures, and dewetting predominates in the structure formation of ultra-thin films. However, the presence of tree-like morphology at 75 °C may be due to the strong interaction between PCL and mica surface, which may stick the PCL chains onto the mica surface during thermal annealing process. Moreover, the growth of the dendrites was investigated and it was found that crystallization is followed from a dewetted sample, and the branches did not grow with the stems. The crystallization of polymer in the ultra-thin films is a diffusion-controlled process. Both melting and crystallization behaviors of PCL in thin films are influenced by film thickness.     

THE STRUCTURE OF AGGREGATION STATE AND ISOTHERMAL CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF NYLON-1010

The structure of aggregation state and isothermal crystallization behavior of Nylon-1010 have been studied by WAXD, DSE, Variance-Range Function and density measurement. The results show that crystallization of Nylon-1010 has the most suitable annealing temperature, the crystals of the Nxlon-1010 are two-dimension heterogeneous nucleation. Both low treatment temperature and high crystallization te, temperature are disadvantageous for Nylon-1010 crystal growth.     

Enhanced <Emphasis Type="Italic">αγ</Emphasis>′ Transition of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) by Step Crystallization and Subsequent Annealing

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) exhibits pronounced polymorphs.Its γ phase is attractive due to the electroactive properties.The γ-PVDF is however difficult to obtain under normal crystallization condition.In a previous work,we reported a simple melt-recrystallization approach for producing y-phase rich PVDF thin films through selective melting and subsequent recrystallization.We reported here another approach for promoting the αγ'phase transition to prepare γ-phase rich PVDF thin films.To this end,a stepwise crystallization and subsequent annealing process was used.The idea is based on a quick generation of a large amount of α-PVDF crystals with some of their γ-PVDF counterparts at suitable crystallization temperature and then annealing at a temperature above the crystallization temperature for enhancing the molecular chain mobility to overcome the energy barrier of phase transition.It was found that crystallizing the PVDF melt first at 152 ℃ for4 h,then quenching to room temperature and finally annealing the sample at 160 ℃ for 100 h was the most efficient to produce γ-PVDF rich films.This is related to the melting and recrystallization of the α-PVDF crystals produced during quenching in the annealing process at 160 ℃,which favors the formation of γ-PVDF crystals for triggering the αγ'phase transition.     

CRYSTALLIZATION OF NaY ZEOLITE IN THE PRESENCE OF “CRYSTAL DIRECTION AGENT”AND RECRYSTALLIZATION OF NaA INTO NaY IN THE REACTION MIXTURE

The process of nucleation and crystal growth of NaY zeolite over a temperature rangeof 55°--100℃ in the presence of "crystal direction agent " are studied. The apparent ac-tivation energy for nucleation and that for crystal growth are evaluated. The mechanism ofthe recrystallization of NaA into NaY is investigated by adding NaA zeolite to the reactionmixture in which the crystallization of NaY zeolite is proceeding. The recrystallization ofNaA zeolite does not occur until the NaY crystallization from the reaction mixture is com-pleted. Thus the process of recrystallization of NaA into NaY might be shown as follows: Amorphous aluminosilicate gel→NaY NaA→NaY NaA Scanning electron microscopic observations and the recrystallization curves show that therecrystallization of NaA into NaY is getting n with a degradation and dissolution of surfacecrystals on the NaA zeolite and that the nucleation and crystal growth of NaY take placeimmediately at the surface of NaA crystals.     

THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENANTIOMER RESOLUTION OF TFA-Ala-OMe, TFA-Ala-Ala-OMe, AND TFA-Ala-Ala-Ala-OMe BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY ON CHIRASIL-VAL

TFA-Ala-OMe, TFA-Ala-Ala-OMe, and TFA-Ala-Ala-Ala-OMe can be separated into 1, 2, and 4 enantiomeric pairs, respectively, by GC on the chiral stationary phase Chirasil-Val. The selectivity of the chiral stationary phase for the different stereoisomers is controlled by both interaction enthalpy and interaction entropy. The interaction enthalpy is approximately proportional to the number of Ala units. Although the whole molecule is involved in the interaction, the C-terminus plays an important role. The elution order of DDD- and LLL-TFA-Ala-Ala-Ala-OMe is opposite to the order of the enhalpy values, and the ratio of net retention data t'r(DDD)/t'r(LLL) is increased with increasing temperature. By lowering the temperature, peak crossing of the enantiomeric pair has been observed. Below the isoselective temperature Tiso' the order of elution is ruled by the enthalpy of interaction, above Tiso by the entropy of interaction.     

Enhanced αγ′ Transition of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) by Step Crystallization and Subsequent Annealing

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) exhibits pronounced polymorphs. Its γ phase is attractive due to the electroactive properties. The γ-PVDF is however difficult to obtain under normal crystallization condition. In a previous work, we reported a simple melt-recrystallization approach for producing γ-phase rich PVDF thin films through selective melting and subsequent recrystallization. We reported here another approach for promoting the αγ′ phase transition to prepare γ-phase rich PVDF thin films. To this end, a stepwise crystallization and subsequent annealing process was used. The idea is based on a quick generation of a large amount of α-PVDF crystals with some of their γ-PVDF counterparts at suitable crystallization temperature and then annealing at a temperature above the crystallization temperature for enhancing the molecular chain mobility to overcome the energy barrier of phase transition. It was found that crystallizing the PVDF melt first at 152 °C for 4 h, then quenching to room temperature and finally annealing the sample at 160 °C for 100 h was the most efficient to produce γ-PVDF rich films. This is related to the melting and recrystallization of the α-PVDF crystals produced during quenching in the annealing process at 160 °C, which favors the formation of γ-PVDF crystals for triggering the αγ′ phase transition.     

拉伸热历史对取向聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯膜在热处理过程中收缩和伸长的影响

The effects of drawing temperature and draw ratio on the contraction and extension of oriented amorphous PET film during thermal treatment has been studied. It has been shown that considerable thermal contraction of the oriented PET film before crystallization is due to relaxation of molecular chains in global sense while the spontaneous extension is related to crystallization of the oriented PET film. The maximum amount of contraction of the oriented PET film during thermal treatment increased with increasing λfor λ>2.3,owing to faster crystallization rate of PET film in highly oriented state. The maximum extension exibits similar behavior as that of maximum contraction with increasing λ and showed a peak at λ≌ 3.3,which isalmost the same draw ratio above which the densityof PET film began to increase during drawing.     

THE EFFECT OF CLAY DISPERSION ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF POLYPROPYLENE／CLAY COMPOSITES

PP/clay composites with different dispersions, namely, exfoliated dispersion, intercalated dispersion and agglomerates and particle-like dispersion, were prepared by direct melt intercalation or compounding. The effect of clay dispersion on the crystallization and morphology of PP was investigated via PLM, SAXS and DSC. Experimental results show that exfoliated clay layers are much more efficient than intercalated clay and agglomerates of clay in serving as nucleation agent due to the nano-scale dispersion of clay, resulting in a dramatic decrease in crystal size (lamellar thickness and spherulites) and an increase of crystallization temperature and crystallization rate. On the other hand, a decrease of melting temperature and crystallinity was also observed in PP/clay composites with exfoliated dispersion, due to the strong interaction between PP and clay. Compared with exfoliated clay layers, the intercalated clay layers have a less important effect on the crystallization and crystal morphology. No effect is seen for samples with agglomerates and particle-like dispersion, in regard to melting temperature, crystallization temperature, crystal thickness and crystallinity.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF γ-IRRADIATED CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Ⅱ ISOTHERMAL CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF γ-RADIATION INDUCED CROSSLINKED POLYAMIDE 1010

Polyamide 1010 is a γ-radiation crosslinkable polymer. After irradiation, it is possible to raise its service temperature up to 240℃. Network formation greatly changes the crystallization behaviour of the polymer. In the present work, DSC was used to examine its isothermal crystallization kinetics. It is found that in addition to the necessity of more undercooling and the lowering of crystallization rate, the primary crystallization stage of the irradiated polymer is shortened. This effect is more evident with increasing radiation dose and content of enhanced difunctionai erosslinking agent. However, the crystallization mechanism of the primary stage is not changed as evidenced by the constancy of Avrami exponent. The lamella end surface free energy σ_e calculated according to Hoffman's equation is very sensitive to γ-radiation. It increases abruptly in 2—3 fold even though the radiation dose is not high enough. The origin of this phenomenon may be accounted for in terms of network structure of the polymer.     

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF P(MMA-MAA)/PEO INTERMACROMOLECULAR COMPLEX FORMED THROUGH HYDROGEN BONDING

The superstructure and properties of polymers might be improved and enhanced througl intermolecular complexation. In this paper, the preparation, structure and properties of P(MMA-MAA)/PEO intermolecular complex through hydrogen bonding are studied. By acid hydrolysis of PMMA, a series of P(MMA-MAA) copolymers have been prepared, the MAA content of which depends on the temperature and time of hydrolyzation. In case the MAA content in P(MMA-MAA) is beyond 0.4 mole fraction, the hydrogen bonding between P(MMA-MAA) and PEO is strong enough to form intermolecular complex. The supermolecular structure of the complex is quite different from that of its constituent, which was observed by an X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. The crystallization of PEO is confined owing to complexation. The complex exhibits quite a lot of good properties in thermal stability, gas permeability as well as mechanical strength, and could be used in many fields.     

STUDIES ON THE KINETICS OF PHASE TRANSITIONS OF A MAIN CHAIN THERMOTROPIC POLYESTER

The kinetics of phase transitions including a transition between mesophases were studied for a main-chain thermotropic polyester by means of DSC and depolarizing transmittance techniques. The isothermal process of these transitions was found to be described by the Avrami equation to high conversions. The Avrami exponents n are about 2,4, 5.3 and 2.2 for liquid crystallization, transition between mesophases and crystallization from mesophase respectively. The liquid crystallization from isotropic liquid phase occurs at very low undercoolings with high transformation rate. This behavior is explained as the results of the smaller value of the surface free energy for mesophase than that for crystallites which is evidenced by the very weak temperature dependence of liquid crystallization rate.     

DYNAMIC MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF CRAZES IN POLYSTYRENE

Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to study the mechanical properties and microstructureof crazes in polystyrene produced in air or in methanol at different temperatures. A new loss peakwas found at about 82℃,which is assigned to glass transition peak of craze fibrils. The decreaseof glass transition temperature of polymer in craze fibrils is due to the high values of surface tovolume ratio. The glass transition temperature ratio of craze fibrils to bulk material (T_g~l /Tg) hasbeen expressed as a function of the fibrils diameter (d). From T_g~l of craze fibrils,the value of fibrildiameter can be calculated. Annealing the crazed specimen at room temperature makes the fibrilsplastically deform and cause the fibrils to thin slightly,whereas annealing the crazed specimen atthe temperature near T_g of the craze fibrils makes the fibrils bundle together.     

DEPOLYMERIZATION AND KINETICS OF DEPOLYMERIZATION OF POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE USING DIBUTYLTIN OXIDE CATALYST

Depolymerization of poly（ethylene terephthalate） （PET） was performed in the tubular bomb microreactor which contained the solution of PET in methanol and dibutyltin oxide at the temperature ranging from 433 K to 473 K, the reaction time from 5 to 45 min and the catalyst-to-PET ratio of 0.3%-2% by weight. The optimal condition for PET depolymerization catalyzed by dibutyltin oxide is the temperature of 443-453 K, the reaction time of 20-25 min and 0.8% by weight of catalyst. By using differential methods, the activation energy for the depolymerization process was found to be 154.05 kJ/mol in the temperature range from 433-463 K.     

STRUCTURE AND THERMAL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ORIENTED POLYIMIDE (PEI-E)

The strain induced crystallization behaviour in polyimide from 1,4-bis (3', 4'- dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene and 4,4'-oxydianiline (PEI-E)has been investigated by WAXD, DSC and FTIR. The results obtained show that crystallization in PEI-E did take place just after tensile yielding. Meanwhile, the effect of strain induced crystallization on the thermomechanical properties was studied by DMA and TMA, the results of which indicate that the crystallization and hot stretching have a certain influence on the dynamic mechanical properties, such as weakening the βrelaxation and decreasing the glass transition temperature. The TMA results confirm the shifting of glass transition temperature to lower temperature region after hot stretching. This phenomenon could be well explained by the effect of residual stress according to Eyring's theory.     

CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OF PURE AND ADDITIVE-CONTAINING POLY (ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)

The isothermal crystallization of poly (ethylene terephthalate ) (PET),which is free of catalyst, stabilizer, oligomer and diethylene glycol (DEG), was studied by DSC. The crystallization behaviour of pure PET is different from commercial PET and a reasonable explanation is presented. The influences of catalyst, stabilizer, oligomer and DEG on the crystallization of pure PET were examined. It is shown that catalyst (Manganese acetate)and stabilizer (Triphenyl phosphite) result in an increase of the crystallization rate of PET; on the contrary, DEG and oligomer (cyclotetramer) result in a reduction of the crystallization rate. When catalyst and stabilizer coexist together, both of them promote the crystallization at lower temperature ,only a smaller effect was found at higher temperature, it is evident that metal phosphite is formed between the catalyst and stabilizer at higher temperature.     

NUCLEATION MECHANISM OF PEO BLOCK IN DOUBLE-CRYSTALLINE POLY（ETHYLENE-co-BUTENE）-b-POLY（ETHYLENE OXIDE） BLOCK COPOLYMERS

In this paper, we proposed a method to determine the nucleation effect of pre-existing crystals on crystallization of the second block in double crystalline block copolymers, which is usually covered by the suppression effect. The nucleation mechanism of poly（ethylene oxide） （PEO） block from the pre-crystallized polyethylene （PE） block in poly（ethylene-cobutene）-b-poly（ethylene glycol） （EmEOn） diblock copolymers was investigated under variable crystallization environments. The crystallization environment for the PEO block was altered by cooling at different cooling rates or successive selfnucleation （SSN） to the PE block. It was found that the presence of nucleation effect is strongly dependent on composition of the block copolymers. The crystallization temperature （Tc） of PEO block in E174EO90 increases as cooling rate applied to the PE block decreases, indicating that PE block can nucleate the crystallization of PEO block and more perfect PE crystals have stronger nucleation effect. In E182EO41 crystallization of the PEO block is confined, shown by the disappearance of selfnucleation domain, and the PE block has no nucleation effect on the crystallization of PEO block. Double crystallization peaks are observed for the PEO block in E182EO41 and the intensity of the crystallization peak at higher temperature increases as the PE crystals become more perfect. After exclusion of homogeneous nucleation mechanism, the higher temperature crystallization peak of the PEO block in E182EO41 is tentatively ascribed to surface nucleation.     

Unusual Spherulitic Morphology of Poly(propylene fumarate)

Spherulites are the most common crystalline morphology and thus the visual expression of crystal structures for polymers. The diversified patterns have provided intuitive morphology probes for various crystallization behaviors, while the correlations between them are still needed to be enriched. In this work, the complicated spherulitic morphology of poly(propylene fumarate)(PPF), which is sensitive to crystallization temperature, is investigated. PPF melt, respectively, crystallizes into rough spherulites, regularly banded spherulites, and spherulites containing both two kinds of morphology at low, high, and mediate temperatures. By systematically assaying, it is clear that the growth axis along the radial direction changes from a-axis to b-axis as the crystallization temperature increases, which leads to the formation of unique crystallization-temperature-dependent spherulites. Based on detailed characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the packing state of the specific hydrogen bonds of "C=C―H···O=C―C=C" in PPF crystal lattices is determined, and furthermore, the mechanism for temperature-dependent selection of growth axes for PPF spherulites in melt is reasonably speculated.