Structures and growth mechanisms of poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) crystallized from solution and thin melt film

The spherulitic structures and morphologies of poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) crystallized from a so- lution and a thin melt film were investigated in this study. The formation mechanisms of banded spherulites under different crystallization conditions are proposed. It was found that the formation of banded spherulites was caused by the rhythmic crystal growth of the spherulites and lamellar twisting growth for the polymer crystallization from a thin melt film and a solution, respectively.     

Crystallization behaviors and morphology of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

Crystallization behaviors and spherulitic morphology of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] with different 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) molar fraction were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. Crystallization behaviors of P(3HB-co-4HB) are significantly affected by 4HB molar fraction. The melting temperature (T _m), glass transition temperature (T _g), and crystallinity (X _c) decrease with the increase of 4HB molar fraction. Banded spherulites are observed in poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers. The band spacing decreases with the increase of 4HB molar fraction. The morphology and growth rate of the spherulites strongly depend on 4HB molar fraction and the crystallization temperatures. The introduction of 4HB unit can inhibit the emergence of cracks in PHB spherulites.     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. I. Spherulitic morphology and growth by polarized microscopy

The development of the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) morphology in the presence of already existent poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) spherulites was studied by two‐stage solidification with two separate crystallization temperatures. PVDF formed irregular dendrites at lower temperatures and regular, banded spherulites at elevated temperatures. The transition temperature of the spherulitic morphology from dendrites to regular, banded spherulites increased with increasing PVDF content. A remarkable amount of PHB was included in the PVDF dendrites, whereas PHB was rejected into the remaining melt from the banded spherulites. When PVDF crystallized as banded spherulites, PHB could consequently crystallize only around them, if at all. In contrast, PHB crystallized with a common growth front, starting from a defined site in the interfibrillar regions of volume‐filling PVDF dendrites. It formed by itself dendritic spherulites that included a large number of PVDF spherulites. For blends with a PHB content of more than 80 wt %, for which the PVDF dendrites were not volume‐filling, PHB first formed regular spherulites. Their growth started from outside the PVDF dendrites but could later interpenetrate them, and this made their own morphology dendritic. These PHB spherulites melted stepwise because the lamellae inside the PVDF dendrites melted at a lower temperature than those from outside. This reflected the regularity of the two fractions of the lamellae because that of those inside the dendrites of PVDF was controlled by the intraspherulitic order of PVDF, whereas that from outside was only controlled by the temperature and the melt composition. The described morphologies developed without mutual nucleating efficiency of the components. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 873–882, 2003     

Influence of microcrystalline cellulose fiber (MCCF) on the morphology of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)

Biopolymer composites were prepared from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/microcrystalline cellulose fiber (MCCF)/plastiziers/poly(vinyl acetate) by melt extrusion. The morphology, crystal structure, and non-isothermal crystallization of these composites were investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The results of DSC indicate that the addition of small amount of MCCF improved the crystallization rate. Non-isothermal crystallization shows that the composites 1 and 2 have lower crystallization half time (t _{0 .5}) than that of pure PHB. Higher MCCF contents in PHB (composite 4) lead to a decrease in the crystallization rate. POM micrographs show that the MCCF were well dispersed in the PHB matrix and served as a nucleating agent with a strong change in PHB morphology. Increasing the isothermal crystallization temperature above 120 °C, leads to the formation of banded spherulites with large regular band spacing. Decreasing the isothermal crystallization temperature below 100 °C produces more and small spherulites.     

Effect of poly(butylene succinate) crystals on spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) in binary blends of the two substances

The effects of the lamellar growth direction, extinction rings, and spherulitic boundaries of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) on the spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were investigated in miscible blends of the two crystalline polymers. In the crystallization process from a homogeneous melt, PBSU first developed volume‐filling spherulites, and then PEO spherulites nucleated and grew inside the PBSU spherulites. The lamellar growth direction of PEO was identical with that of PBSU even when the PBSU content was about 5 wt %. PEO, which intrinsically does not exhibit banded spherulites, showed apparent extinction rings inside the banded spherulites of PBSU. The growth rate of a PEO spherulite, G_PEO, was influenced not only by the blend composition and the crystallization temperature of PEO, but also by the growth direction with respect to PBSU lamellae, the boundaries of PBSU spherulites, and the crystallization temperature of PBSU, T_PBSU. The value of G_PEO first increased with decreasing T_PBSU when a PEO spherulite grew inside a single PBSU spherulite. Then, G_PEO decreased when T_PBSU was further decreased and a PEO spherulite grew through many tiny PBSU spherulites. This behavior was discussed based on the aforementioned factors affecting G_PEO. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 539–547, 2009     

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.     

Morphologies and enzymatic degradability of melt-crystallized poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-Co-6-hydroxyhexanoic acid)

The films of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-10mol% 6-hydroxy-hexanoic acid] (P[(R)-3HB-co-6HH]) were prepared by melt-crystallized method at various crystallization temperatures. The morphologies and properties of melt-crystallized films were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All of the melt-crystallized films showed the banded spherulite morphology. The enzymatic degradation of melt-crystallized films was carried out at 37 °C in an aqueous solution (pH 7.4) of PHB depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis. The rate of enzymatic erosion was strongly dependent on the crystallinity of films, and the highest rate was as large as 2.15 mg·h⁻¹·cm⁻². After enzymatic degradation, the banded morphology of P[(R)-3HB-co-6HH] spherulites was visible, suggesting that PHB depolymerase predominantly hydrolyzes polymer chains on the edges of crystalline lamellar stacks.     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. II. Morphology and crystallization kinetics by time resolved X‐ray scattering

The development of the morphology in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PVDF/PHB) blends upon isothermal and anisothermal crystallization is investigated by time‐resolved small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. The components are completely miscible in the melt but crystallize separately; they crystallize stepwise at different temperatures or sequentially with isothermal or anisothermal conditions, respectively. The PVDF crystallizes undisturbed whereas PHB crystallizes in a confined space that is determined by the existing supermolecular structure of the PVDF. The investigations reveal that composition inhomogeneities may initially develop in the remaining melt or in the amorphous phases of the PVDF upon crystallization of that component. The subsequent crystallization of the PHB depends on these heterogeneities and the supermolecular structure of PVDF (dendritically or globularly spherulitic). PHB may form separate spherulites that start to grow from the melt, or it may develop “interlocking spherulites” that start to grow from inside a PVDF spherulite. Occasionally, a large number of PVDF spherulites may be incorporated into PHB interlocking spherulites. The separate PHB spherulites may intrude into the PVDF spherulites upon further growth, which results in “interpenetrating spherulites.” Interlocking and interpenetrating are realized by the growth of separate lamellar stacks (“fibrils”) of the blend components. There is no interlamellar growth. The growth direction of the PHB fibrils follows that of the existing PVDF fibrils. Depending on the distribution of the PHB molecules on the interlamellar and interfibrillar PVDF regions, the lamellar arrangement of the PVDF may contract or expand upon PHB crystallization and the adjacent fibrils of the two components are linked or clearly separated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 974–985, 2004     

Crystallization kinetics of poly(hexamethylene succinate)

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of polyester 64 have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The Avrami analysis has been performed to obtain the kinetic parameters of primary crystallization. These indicate a three-dimensional spherulitic growth on heterogeneous nuclei for the isothermal crystallization, whereas an sporadic nucleation becomes dominant in the nonisothermal crystallization. The maximum crystallization rate of polyester 64 was deduced to take place at a temperature close to −3 °C. Polarizing light microscopy showed that spherulites with a negative birefringence are formed during isothermal crystallization, whereas transmission electron microscopy indicates that the b crystallographic axis is aligned parallel to the spherulitic radius.     

Poly(dithiotriethylene adipate): Melting behavior, crystallization kinetics and morphology

The melting behavior and the crystallization kinetics of poly(dithiotriethylene adipate) (PSSTEA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and hot-stage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, commonly displayed by polyesters, were influenced by the crystallization temperature (T_c) and ascribed to melting and recrystallization processes. Linear and nonlinear theoretical treatments were applied to estimate the equilibrium melting temperature for PSSTEA, using the corrected values of the melting temperature; the nonlinear estimation yielded a higher value by about 15 °C. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed according to the Avrami’s theory. Values of the Avrami’s exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of T_c, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predeterminated nuclei and characterized by three-dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space-filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all T_c’s. The rate of crystallization became lower as T_c increased, as usual at low undercooling, the crystallization process being controlled by nucleation.     

Miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) blends

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHB‐HHx) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) blends were prepared using melt blending. The single glass transition temperature, T_g, between the T_gs of the two components and the negative χ value indicated that PHB‐HHx and MPEG formed miscible blends over the range of compositions studied. The Gordon–Taylor equation proved that there was an interaction between PHB‐HHx and MPEG in their blends. FTIR supported the presence of hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group of MPEG and the carbonyl group of PHB‐HHx. The spherulitic morphology and isothermal crystallization behavior of the miscible PHB‐HHx/MPEG blends were investigated at two crystallization temperatures (70 and 40 °C). At 70 °C, melting MPEG acted as a noncrystalline diluent that reduced the crystallization rate of the blends, while insoluble MPEG particles acted as a nucleating agent at 40 °C, enhancing the crystallization rate of the blends. However, no interspherulitic phase separation was observed at the two crystallization temperatures. The constant value of the Avrami exponent demonstrated that MPEG did not affect the three‐dimensional spherulitic growth mechanism of PHB‐HHx crystals in the blends, although the MPEG phase, such as the melting state or insoluble state, influenced the crystallization rate of the blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2852–2863, 2006     

Crystal orientation switching in spherulites grown from miscible blends of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) with cellulose tributyrate

Fully miscible blends over the whole composition range are obtained by melt mixing bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyate) (PHB) and tri‐substituted cellulose butyrate [cellulose tributyrate (CTB)]. Blends containing up to 50 wt % CTB are partially crystalline. Isothermal crystallization experiments show formation of PHB spherulites that grow until impingement. Depending on composition, radial growth rate is either constant or it suddenly increases in a very unusual manner leading to peculiar morphologies. In the latter case, in concomitance to the crystal growth acceleration, the sign of birefringence changes and rotation of the PHB unit cell orientation is observed. These results are discussed in terms of the influence of both composition and T_c on the relative crystallization kinetics of the two blend components. A strong effect played by the not yet crystallized CTB component that in the presence of the highly mobile PHB component forms a liquid crystal‐like phase is proposed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Increased spherulitic growth rates of semicrystalline polymer due to enhanced limited local chain segmental mobility at the interface of double-layer thin films

In this work the nucleation and growth of spherulites for the below polylactide (PLA) layer in poly(ε-caprolactone)/polylactide (PCL/PLA) double-layer films during isothermal crystallization at various temperatures above the melting point of PCL have been investigated by using polarized optical microscopy (POM). It is revealed that two types of spherulitic morphologies are observed in PCL/PLA double-layer films. One is the well defined highly birefringent spherulites, and the other one is the coarse spherulites. It is interesting to find that the spherulitic growth rate of the coarse spherulites is higher than that of the well defined spherulites. It is thought that the coarse spherulites nucleate and grow with the assistance of the interfaces between the PCL and PLA layers, and the well defined highly birefringent spherulites only nucleate and grow in the PLA layer.     

聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二醇酯溶液浇铸薄膜形态结构

聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二醇酯(PTT)是典型的半结晶聚合物,从熔体结晶形成球品,在某一结晶温度范围内,在球晶中可观察到环带结构,一般认为,环带球品的形成归因于片晶沿球晶径向的周期性扭曲,本文研究了PTT溶液浇铸薄膜在溶剂挥发过程中等温结晶的形态结构。     

Influence of degradation on the crystallization behaviour of a biodegradable segmented copolymer constituted by glycolide and trimethylene carbonate units

The influence of degradation on non-isothermal crystallization from the melt of a segmented copolymer constituted of glycolide and trimethylene carbonate units and used as a bioabsorbable surgical suture was studied by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and time-resolved X-ray diffraction. Fibrillar positive spherulites were obtained with slightly degraded samples but new axialitic morphologies were detected when samples had a molecular weight, M_w, lower than 29,000 g/mol and the crystallization started at a high temperature.Crystal growth kinetics of samples degraded under different conditions was evaluated over a wide temperature range by a non-isothermal method. Two crystallization regimes (I and II) were determined for the more degraded samples (i.e., those able to crystallize according to axialitic and spherulitic morphologies), whereas only regime II was found for samples of higher molecular weights. Primary nucleation density decreased with the extent of degradation provided no morphological changes occurred, and so did the regularity of lamellar stacking, as shown by synchrotron measurements, although the morphological parameters remained practically constant.     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. III. Crystallization and phase diagram by differential scanning calorimetry

The crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) blends was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, from which the phase diagram was derived. Strong miscibility was underlined by the large negative Flory–Huggins interaction parameter (?0.25). The crystallization of the blend components differed remarkably. Whereas PVDF always crystallized in the surroundings of a homogeneous melt, PHB crystallized in a volume that was confined by the already existing PVDF spherulites, partly in their surroundings and partly inside. Under isothermal conditions, PVDF usually crystallized regularly in three dimensions with predominant quench‐induced athermal nucleation. The Avrami exponent for PVDF dendritic spherulitic growth was, however, distinctly smaller than that for compact growth, and this revealed the two‐dimensional lamellar growth inside. This deviation from ideal Avrami behavior was caused by the development of compositional inhomogeneities as PVDF crystallization proceeded, and this decelerated the kinetics. PHB crystallized three‐dimensionally with mixed thermal and athermal nucleation outside the PVDF spherulites. Inside the PVDF spherulites, PHB crystallization proceeded in a fibrillar fashion with thermal nucleation; the growth front followed the amorphous paths inside the dendritic PVDF spherulites. The crystallization was faster than that in the melt of uncrystallized PVDF. Solid PVDF acts possibly heterogeneously nucleating, accelerating PHB crystallization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 287–295, 2005     

Crystallization behavior and morphology of poly(propylene terephthalate) copolymers containing neopenthyl glycol moieties

The melting behavior and the crystallization kinetics of random poly(propylene/neopenthyl terephthalate) copolymers (PPT‐PNT) were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. Multiple endotherms were evidenced in the PPT‐PNT samples, due to melting and recrystallization processes, similarly to PPT. By applying the Hoffman‐Weeks' method, the T_m° of the copolymers was derived. Baur's equation described well the T_m‐composition data. The isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to the Avrami's treatment. The introduction of NT units decreased the crystallization rate in comparison to pure PPT. Values of the Avrami's exponent close to three were obtained in all cases, regardless of T_c, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predeterminated nuclei and characterized by three dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space‐filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all T_cs. Banded spherulites were found for PPT‐PNT5 and PPT‐PNT10, the band spacing being affected by both T_c and composition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 818–830, 2008     

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.     

Poly(thiodiethylene adipate): Melting behavior,crystallization kinetics,morphology, and crystal structure

The melting behavior and crystallization kinetics of poly(thiodiethylene adipate) (PSDEA) were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, commonly displayed by polyesters, were influenced by the crystallization temperature (T_c) and ascribed to melting and recrystallization processes. Linear and nonlinear treatments were applied to estimate the equilibrium melting temperature for PSDEA with the corrected values of the melting temperature. The nonlinear estimation yielded a higher value by about 9 °C. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed according to Avrami's treatment. Values of Avrami's exponent close to 3 were obtained, independently of T_c, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predetermined nuclei and characterized by three‐dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space‐filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all T_c's. The rate of crystallization became lower as T_c increased, as usual at a low undercooling, the crystallization process being controlled by nucleation. Moreover, the crystal structure of PSDEA was determined from powder X‐ray diffraction data by full profile fitting. A triclinic unit cell containing two polymer chains arranged parallel to the c axis was found. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 553–566, 2004     

Temperature dependences of solid structure and properties of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) copolyester

In this paper, studies of the temperature dependence for spherulitic growth of PBST copolyester bearing 70 mol% butylene terephthalate units (named as PBST-70) ranged from 70 to 170 °C were first reported based on the Lauritzen–Hoffman secondary nucleation theory. The results showed that maximum spherulitic growth rate of PBST-70 was obtained under crystallization temperature of 90 °C, and more perfect spherulites were formed via increasing isothermal crystallization temperature by POM measurement. The classical regime I → II and regime II → III transitions occurred at the temperatures of 150 and 110 °C, respectively, using the empirical universal values of U* = 6300 J mol^?1 and T _∞ = T _g ? 30 K. Moreover, the effects of isothermal crystallization temperature on crystal lamellar thickness, thermal and tensile properties of PBST-70 were systematically investigated by small angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimeter, and strength tester. The results indicated that the crystal lamellar thickness increased by increasing isothermal crystallization temperature. The endothermic peak shifted to higher temperature and the tensile properties of PBST-70 were enhanced under higher isothermal crystallization temperature.