Influence of molecular characteristics on non-isothermal melt-crystallization kinetics of syndiotactic polypropylene

Non-isothermal melt-crystallization and subsequent melting behavior for six syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) resins having different molecular characteristics were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For a given sPP resin, the crystallization exotherm became wider and shifted towards a lower temperature with increasing cooling rate. Among all of the sPP resins investigated, the crystallization exotherm of sPP#11 was found to locate at the highest temperature range, followed by that of sPP#14, sPP#10, sPP#13, sPP#12, and sPP#9, respectively. Based on the absolute temperature scale, sPP#11 showed the highest tendency to start crystallizing during a cooling scan. The ability of these resins to start crystallizing was found to be very similar when the difference in the equilibrium melting temperature of the resins was taken into account. The non-isothermal melt-crystallization kinetics of these sPP resins was well described by the Avrami, Urbanovici–Segal, Ozawa, and Ziabicki models. The subsequent melting behavior of these sPP resins exhibited either a single melting endotherm or double melting endotherms.     

Quiescent crystallization of polypropylene: Experiments and modeling

The quiescent crystallization of several polypropylenes (PPs) was examined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM). The half‐times of crystallization were obtained from the DSC thermographs employing the Avrami/Nakamura equation to fit and predict crystallization kinetics under isothermal and nonisothermal conditions. The induction times under nonisothermal conditions were estimated from isothermal crystallization data and used in conjunction with the Nakamura model in order to capture the crystallization behavior of the studied PPs. The Avrami/Nakamura model is found to fit and predict the nonisothermal crystallization data of the various PPs well over a range of cooling rates supporting its use in the simulation of polymer processes of industrial relevance. POM was used in line with parallel plate rheometry (Anton Paar, MCR 502) under no flow conditions to study the shape and growth rate of crystals of various PP resins at different temperatures or cooling rates. The growth rate of crystals is impeded exponentially with increase of temperature. The various PP resins of different molecular architecture have shown different nucleation and growth rate characteristics behavior under similar processing conditions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1259–1275     

聚丁二酸丁二醇酯的自成核结晶行为

利用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)研究了自成核对聚丁二酸丁二醇酯(PBS)的结晶行为的影响. 研究结果表明, PBS的有效自成核温度处理区间为118～120 ℃. PBS经自成核处理后结晶温度提高, 可以在100~118 ℃温度区间内迅速结晶. 同时, 研究了自成核处理后样品在100～104 ℃范围内的等温结晶行为、动力学过程及熔融行为. 结果表明, 随着等温结晶温度的升高, 结晶速率变慢, 熔融曲线出现多重熔融峰. Hoffman-Weeks方程分析结果表明, 自成核处理对PBS的平衡熔点没有影响. Avrami等温结晶动力学方程适合分析自成核处理样品的等温结晶动力学过程, 获得其动力学参数K与n, 其中n值偏大的原因在于自成核的样品结晶生长点增多. 根据Arrhenius方程, 计算获得PBS自成核处理后等温结晶活化能为-286 kJ/mol.     

Crystallization Kinetics of Polypropylene and Poly (butyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Blend

The crystallization kinetics of polypropylene and poly (butyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) blend was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The isothermal crystallization analysis based on the Avrami theory indicated a heterogeneous nucleating effect from the copolymer. A systematic study of the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was undertaken using the Avrami equation and its later modifications by Ozawa, Mo, and Zhang. The results demonstrated that the linear relationship failed in the different cooling rates because the Avrami method did not take into account that the crystallization temperature was lowered continuously. The Ozawa and Mo methods could be successful in describing the overall nonisothermal process of polypropylene and the blend. In addition, the nonisothermal crystallization energy values were estimated by the Kissinger and Freidman models. There are two mutually opposite effects on the crystallization behavior of the blend: nucleation ability and growth retardation.     

Nonisothermal crystallization and melting behavior of a luminescent conjugated polymer,poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐alt‐co‐2,5‐didecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene)

The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of a luminescent conjugated polymer, poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐alt‐co‐2,5‐didecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene) (PF6OC10) with three different molecular weights was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry under different cooling rates from the melt. With increasing molecular weight of PF6OC10, the temperature range of crystallization peak steadily became narrower and shifted to higher temperature region and the crystallization rate increased. It was found that the Ozawa method failed to describe the nonisothermal crystallization behavior of PF6OC10. Although the Avrami method did not effectively describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PF6OC10 for overall process, it was valid for describing the early stage of crystallization with an Avrami exponent n of about 3. The combined method proposed in our previous report was able to satisfactorily describe the nonisothermal crystallization behavior of PF6OC10. The crystallization activation energies determined by Kissinger, Takhor, and Augis‐Bennett models were comparable. The melting temperature of PF6OC10 increased with increasing molecular weight. For low‐molecular‐weight sample, PF6OC10 showed the characteristic of double melting phenomenon. The interval between the two melting peaks decreased with increasing molecular weight, and only one melting peak was observed for the high‐molecular‐weight sample. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 976–987, 2007     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(propylene terephthalate)

The kinetics of crystallization of poly(propylene terephthalate) (PPT) samples of different molecular weights were studied under both isothermal and nonisothermal conditions. The Avrami and Lauritzen–Hoffmann treatments were applied to evaluate kinetic parameters of PPT isothermal crystallization. It was found that crystallization is faster for low‐molecular‐weight samples. The modified Avrami equation, and the combined Avrami–Ozawa method were found to successfully describe the nonisothermal crystallization process. Also, the analysis of Lauritzen–Hoffmmann was tested and it resulted in values close to those obtained with isothermal crystallization data. The nonisothermal kinetic data were corrected for the effect of the temperature lag and shifted alone with the isothermal kinetic data to obtain a single master curve, according to the method of Chan and Isayev, testifying to the consistency between the isothermal and corrected nonisothermal data. A new method for ranking of polymers, referring to the crystallization rates, was also introduced. This involved a new index that combines the maximum crystallization rate observed during cooling with the average crystallization rates over the temperature range of the crystallization peak. Furthermore, the effective energy barrier of the dynamic process was evaluated with the isoconversional methods of Flynn and Friedmann. It was found that the energy barrier is lower for the low‐molecular‐weight PPT. The effect of the catalyst remnants on the crystallization kinetics was also investigated and it was found that this is significant only for low‐molecular‐weight samples. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3775–3796, 2004     

Isothermal crystallization behavior of PP and PP-g-GMA copolymer at high undercooling

The study involves synthesis of polypropylene grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (PP-g-GMA) using three different initiators, benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide and tertiary butyl cumyl peroxide (TBSP). Among the peroxides used, dicumyl peroxide resulted in considerable reduction of molecular weight of the resulting graft copolymer. The melting/crystallization behavior and isothermal crystallization kinetics of PP homopolymer and PP-g-GMA copolymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at high undercooling (44–60°C). The results showed that the degree of crystallinity and overall crystallization rate of copolymers is greater than that of virgin PP. Among the three initiators used, TBCP exhibited lowest half crystallization time. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of the PP and copolymers was described with the Avrami equation and Sestak-Berggren (SB) equation. The Avrami exponent n of the PP and copolymers were found to be in the range 1.03 to 1.41 at high undercooling conditions employed in this study. The agreement between the values of n calculated from SB kinetics and Avrami equation is satisfactory with few exceptions. The crystallization rate of PP-g-GMA copolymer was found to be more sensitive to temperature. The isothermally crystallized samples showed a single melting peak for PP while a double peak at lower temperature was recorded for PP-g-GMA copolymer samples. The equilibrium melting point was deduced according to Hoffman-Weeks theory. The decrease of recorded for the PP modified with GMA suggests that the thermodynamic stability of the PP crystals is influenced by the chemical interactions.     

聚(丁二酸丁二酯-co-丁二酸丙二酯)的等温结晶行为研究

以1,4-丁二酸、1,4-丁二醇和1,3-丙二醇为原料通过直接熔融缩聚法合成了聚丁二酸丁二酯(PBS),聚丁二酸丙二酯(PPS)和聚(丁二酸丁二酯-co-丁二酸丙二酯)(PBSPS)等脂肪族聚酯.利用1H-NMR,WAXD,DSC和POM等研究了聚酯的结晶结构和结晶动力学过程等结晶行为.PBSPS的结晶晶型与PBS一致,说明只有丁二酸丁二酯(BS)单元结晶而丁二酸丙二酯(PS)单元处于无定形区.聚酯等温结晶后,在升温熔融过程中出现了多重熔融峰.分析表明多重熔融峰主要来自于聚酯升温过程中的熔融-重结晶行为.利用Avrami方程分析了聚酯的等温结晶动力学,Avrami指数n为2.2~2.8,说明聚酯等温结晶时主要以异相成核的三维生长方式进行;随着PS单元的增多,聚酯的表观结晶活化能升高,也就是说BS单元的结晶变得困难.POM观察到聚酯等温结晶时都出现了环带球晶现象,球晶形态会随着结晶温度和化学结构差异而改变.     

Crystallization kinetics and melting behavior of syndiotactic 1,2‐polybutadiene

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the isothermal crystallization, subsequent melting behavior, and nonisothermal crystallization of syndiotactic 1,2‐polybutadiene (st‐1,2‐PB) produced with an iron‐based catalyst system. The isothermal crystallization of two fractions was analyzed according to the Avrami equation. The morphology of the crystallite was observed with polarized optical microscopy. Double melting peaks were observed for the samples isothermally crystallized at 125–155 °C. The low‐temperature melting peak, which appeared approximately 5 °C above the crystallization temperature, was attributed to the melting of imperfect crystals formed by the less stereoregular fraction. The high‐temperature melting peak was associated with the melting of perfect crystals formed by the stereoregular fraction. With the Hoffman–Weeks approach, the value of the equilibrium melting temperature was derived. During the nonisothermal crystallization, the Ozawa method was limited in obtaining the kinetic parameters of st‐1,2‐PB. A new method that combined the Ozawa method and the Avrami method was employed to analyze the nonisothermal crystallization of st‐1,2‐PB. The activation energies of crystallization under nonisothermal conditions were calculated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 553–561, 2005     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of PET/ATO nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization

Neat poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and PET/antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization. The study of the isothermal crystallization behaviors of neat PET and PET/ATO nanocomposites was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization kinetics under isothermal conditions could be described by the Avrami equation. For neat PET and PET/ATO nanocomposites, the Avrami exponent n both decreased with increasing crystallization temperature. In addition, for the same crystallization temperature, the value of n increased with increasing ATO content. These suggested that the crystallization types related to the values of n in the Avrami theory could not be suitable for the crystallization of PET and its nanocomposites. The change of the n values indicated that the addition of ATO resulted in the increase of the crystallizing growth points. That is a heterogeneous nucleating effect of ATO on crystallization of PET. In the DSC scan after isothermal crystallization process, multiple melting behavior was found. And the multiple endotherms could be attributed to melting of the recrystallized materials or the secondary lamellae produced during different crystallization processes. The equilibrium melting temperature of PET in the nanocomposites increased with increasing the ATO content. Surface free energy of PET chain folding for crystallization of PET/ATO nanocomposites was lower than that of neat PET, confirming the heterogeneous nucleation effect of ATO.     

光学纯度对聚左旋乳酸结晶与熔融行为的影响

通过示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和广角X射线衍射仪(WAXD)研究了聚左旋乳酸(PLLA)的光学纯度(91.6%、93.3%、94.0%、97.0%、98.4%)对聚乳酸结晶和熔融行为的影响。 在非等温结晶过程中,随着光学纯度的提高,聚乳酸的结晶峰值温度、熔点、熔融焓均提高。 在等温结晶过程中,PLLA的半结晶时间(t_1/2)随着光学纯度的增加而减少,在结晶温度100~110 ℃区间内半结晶时间均达到最小值;含有不同光学纯度PLLA的Avrami指数n≈3,表明光学纯度的变化不能改变聚乳酸以三维球晶生长的异相成核机理。 随着光学纯度的增加,聚乳酸δ-晶型转变为α-晶型的临界温度升高。 聚乳酸的结晶和熔融行为对光学纯度具有依赖性。     

Melt-crystallization behavior and isothermal crystallization kinetics of crystalline/crystalline blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

The melt-crystallization and isothermal melt-crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(trimethylene terephthalate) blends (PET/PTT) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy. Although PET and PTT in the binary blends are miscible at amorphous state, they will crystallize individually when cooled from the melt. In the DSC measurements, PET component with higher supercooling degree will crystallize first, and then the crystallite of PET will be the nucleating agent for PTT, which induce the crystallization of PTT at higher temperature. On the other hand, in both blends of PET80/PTT20 and PET60/PTT40, the PET component will crystallize at higher temperature with faster crystallization rate due to the dilute effect of PTT. So the commingled minor addition of one component to another helps to improve the crystallization of the blends. For blends of PET20/PTT80 and PET40/PTT60, isothermal crystallization kinetics evaluated in terms of the Avrami equation suggest different crystallization mechanisms occurred. The more PET content in blends, the fast crystallization rate is. The Avrami exponent, n = 3, suggests a three-dimensional growth of the crystals in both blends, which is further demonstrated by the spherulites formed in all blends. The crystalline blends show multiple-melting peaks during heating process.     

聚β-羟基丁酸酯顺丁烯二酸酐接枝共聚物的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为

采用DSC方法对聚 β 羟基丁酸酯顺丁烯二酸酐接枝共聚物 (PHB g MA)的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为进行了研究 .结果表明 ,顺丁烯二酸酐的引入使得聚 β 羟基丁酸酯的结晶能力下降 ,但是并没有改变它的结晶成核机理和生长方式 .随着接枝率的增加 ,结晶活化能增加 .等温结晶后的PHB g MA表现出双熔融行为 ,这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The equilibrium melting enthalpy and the equilibrium melting temperature of nylon‐46 were determined to be 155.58 J/g and 307.10 °C, respectively. The isothermal crystallization process was described by the Avrami equation. The lateral surface free energy and the end surface free energy of nylon‐46 were calculated to be 8.28 and 138.54 erg/cm², respectively. The work of chain folding was determined to be 7.12 kcal/mol. The activation energies were determined to be 568.25 and 337.80 kJ/mol for isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization, respectively. A convenient method was applied to describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 by a combination of the Avrami and Ozawa equations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1784–1793, 2002     

等规聚丙烯自成核的等温结晶动力学

近年来 ,有关等规聚丙烯 (i PP)的自成核研究已引起了人们的关注 [1 ] ,但有关其结晶动力学的报道并不多见 .Carfagna等 [2 ]用膨胀计法研究了 i PP在未完全熔融重结晶情况下的等温结晶动力学 ,得到的 Avrami指数远远小于 3 .张新远等[3 ] 研究了 i PP未完全熔融情况下的非等温结晶动力学 .到目前为止 ,i PP自成核的熔体降温等温结晶动力学尚未见报道 .本文在 i PP自成核研究的基础上 [4] ,用 DSC方法研究了 i PP自成核在较高温度下的等温结晶动力学 ,讨论了结晶机理 .结果表明 ,在本实验的自成核条件下 ,i PP依然是三维球晶生长 ,…     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of novel odd-odd polyamide 9 11

A study on isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of odd-odd polyamide 9 11 was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The equilibrium melting temperature of polyamide 9 11 was determined to be 199.1 °C. The Avrami equation was adopted to describe isothermal crystallization of polyamide 9 11. Nonisothermal crystallization was analyzed using both the Avrami relation modified by Jeziorny and the equation suggested by Mo. The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization activation energies of polyamide 9 11 were determined to be −310.9 and −269.0 kJ/mol using the Arrhenius equation and the Kissinger method, respectively.     

DSC analysis of isothermal melt-crystallization, glass transition and melting behavior of poly(l-lactide) with different molecular weights

Isothermal melt-crystallization, glass transition and melting behavior of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) with different molecular weights were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry. Analysis by Avrami equation showed that crystallization was initiated by heterogeneous nucleation, followed by 3-dimensional growth. The maximum reciprocal half-time of crystallization (1/t_1/2) was detected at 105 °C. Double endothermic peaks were observed around the glass transition for PLLA with intermediate crystallinities, indicating the coexistence of bulk-like and confined amorphous regions. Double-melting behavior was analyzed and combined with the equilibrium melting temperature evaluation by non-linear Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation, from which a value of 207.6 °C was deduced for PLLA of infinite molecular weight. Lauritzen-Hoffman theory was employed to analyze the crystallization kinetics. Regime II-III transition was found to occur at 120 °C for PLLA of lower molecular weight. The crystal morphology was also examined by scanning electron microscopy through chemical etching method.     

Crystallization and melting behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(n-butyl methacrylate) blends

The phase diagram, crystallization and melting behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) blends have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The results show that the blends are miscible up to 85 °C and show an lower critical solution temperature-type demixing at a higher temperature. The isothermal crystallization studies of the blends indicate a reduction in the overall rate of crystallization. Analysis of isothermal crystallization data by means of Avrami equation leads to average values of the Avrami index of 2.5 for pure PEO and 3.0 for the different blend compositions. The melting behavior of the blends reveals double endotherms, which is ascribed to both secondary crystallization and recrystallization. The melting point depression study yielded χ₁₂=0, indicating a relatively low interaction strength.     

Multiple melting behavior of isotactic polypropylene and poly(propylene-co-ethylene) after stepwise isothermal crystallization

The multiple melting behavior of several commercial resins of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and random copolymer, poly(propylene-co-ethylene) (PPE), after stepwise isothermal crystallization (SIC) were studied by differential scanning calorimeter and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). For iPP samples, three typical melting endotherms appeared after SIC process when heating rate was lower than 10 °C/min. The WAXD experiments proved that only α-form crystal was formed during SIC process and no transition from α1- to α2-form occurred during heating process. Heating rate dependence for each endotherm was discussed and it was concluded that there were only two major crystals with different thermal stability. For the PPE sample, more melting endotherms appeared after stepwise isothermal crystallization. The introduction of ethylene comonomer in isotactic propylene backbone further decreased the regularity of molecular chain, and the short isotactic propylene sequences could crystallize into γ-form crystal having a low melting temperature whereas the long sequences crystallized into α-form crystal having high melting temperature.     

Crystallization of polypropylene,nylon-66 and poly(ethylene terephthalate) at pressures to 200 MPa: Kinetics and characterization of products

The crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA66), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were studied, using a pressure dilatometer (to 200 MPa) to follow the volume changes associated with the crystallization process. The commonly used Avrami equation fitted the isothermal/isobaric crystallization data of PP and PA66 well. The Avrami exponent n was between 1.3 and 1.7, independent of crystallization pressure and temperature. Lines of constant Avrami rate parameter Z in the P-T plane were essentially parallel to the pressure dependence of the melting points and crystallization temperatures. However, the Avrami equation was not suitable for PET. The Malkin, Dietz, and Kim equations provided better fits. The crystallization half-time of PET increased with pressure at constant supercooling, in contrast to PP and PA66, for which it remained essentially unchanged. X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and pressure dilatometry were used to study the effect of formation pressure on the crystal structure, the melting point, and the density of products which were crystallized for short times (minutes) at various temperatures and pressures. No new crystal structures were found for PA66 and PET, but a mixture of monoclinic and triclinic crystals existed in PP above a formation pressure of 50 MPa. The melting points increased with formation pressure for PET, but remained unchanged for PP and PA66. Density at ambient conditions decreased with formation pressure for PP, but increased for PET and PA66. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.