Crystallization in oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers. II. Consequences in subsequent deformation

When a melt-spun poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fiber is heat treated at a temperature above its glass transition temperature, the relative rates at which the crystallization and major orientational relaxation processes occur have been shown to have a pronounced effect on the structure of the fiber and its deformability. The present study describes the consequences of this aspect, with examples from drawing of melt-spun PET fibers subsequent to their crystallization by thermal annealing. Additional features of the highly ordered PET fibers which can be produced through a combination of oriented crystallization and drawing at high temperatures are also given.     

Structure development and physical properties achieved in the drawing and/or annealing of PEN fibers

As‐spun poly(ethylene‐2,6‐naphthalate) (PEN) fibers (i.e., precursors) prepared from high molecular weight polymer were drawn and/or annealed under various conditions. Structure and property variations taking place during the treatment process were followed via wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), small‐angle X‐ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. Both the WAXS and DSC measurements of the cold‐drawn samples stretched from a low‐speed‐spun amorphous fiber indicate that strain‐induced crystallization can occur at a temperature below the glass‐transition temperature and that the resultant crystal is in the α‐form modification. In contrast, when the same precursor was subjected to constrained annealing, its amorphous characteristics remained unchanged even though the annealing was performed at 200 °C. These results may imply that the application of stretching stress is more important than elevated temperatures in producing α‐form crystallization. The crystalline structure of the hot‐drawn samples depends significantly on the morphology of the precursor fibers. When the precursor was wound at a very low speed and in a predominantly amorphous state, hot drawing induced the formation of crystals that were apparently pure α‐form modification. For the β‐form crystallized precursors wound at higher speeds, a partial crystalline transition from the β form to the α form was observed during the hot drawing. In contrast with the mechanical properties of the as‐spun fibers, those of the hot‐drawn products are not improved remarkably because the draw ratio is extremely limited for most as‐spun fibers in which an oriented crystalline structure has already formed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1424–1435, 2000     

Molecular mobility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the anisotropic state

The effect of uniaxial orientational drawing and subsequent isometric annealing on the molecular mobility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) was studied by dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The influence of orientation, the polymorphic composition of the crystalline phase, and the structure of disordered regions on dielectric and mechanical relaxation in isotropic and oriented samples was investigated.     

Chain-backbone motion in glassy polycarbonate studied by polarized infrared spectroscopy

Chain-backbone motion in glassy polycarbonate has been investigated both under isothermal stress, and also under zero stress during isothermal annealing of freely contracting film specimens. In both types of experiment, backbone motion was detected by measuring the change in infrared dichroism. The dichroism of absorption bands at 1364 and 2971 cm^?1, which have transition moment vectors directly related to the chain-backbone orientation, was studied. Under tensile stress in the homogeneous region of deformation, changes of up to 2.2° in the mean chain-backbone orientation angle were measured at 23°C. With the onset of cold drawing a total orientation change of some 8° was observed. For the isothermal annealing experiments, a film specimen holder employing conductive heating with radiative losses was employed. It enables infrared measurements to be made while the temperature of the contracting specimen is maintained constant to ± 0.5°C. Oriented specimens were prepared by isothermal stretching of polycarbonate films to strains of the order of 100%. Changes in the mean chain-backbone orientation angle were observed during annealing of these oriented films at temperatures between 80°C and the glass transition (149°C). Chain motion proceeded during annealing, and chain segments were observed to move cooperatively. The temperature at which the polymer is prestretched has a pronounced effect on its subsequent relaxation during annealing: when the sample was stretched at 23°C. motions were detected during annealing at temperatures as low as 81°C, while, if it was stretched at 154°C, no motion was detected at annealing temperatures below 127°C. The data are discussed in comparison with theories of the glassy state that predict the absence of chain-backbone motion at temperatures significantly below the glass transition. A shift in frequency of the ν_a (CH₃) absorption peak in stretched polycarbonate was measured by using polarized radiation. The effect was interpreted in terms of changes in the intermolecular bonding structure of the oriented polymer.     

不同后处理条件下聚萘二甲酸乙二酯纤维的结构变化

对不同纺速下制得的聚萘二甲酸乙二酯 (PEN)初生纤维进行了冷拉伸、定长热处理和热拉伸等后处理 .通过WAXS、DSC等测试研究了纤维中结构变化与后处理条件之间的关系 .结果表明 ,较低纺速下所制得的无定形初生纤维在低于Tg 温度下的冷拉伸时发生了应力诱导结晶 ,纤维中生成了α晶体 .同样的初生纤维在定长热处理过程中直至 2 0 0℃仍保持无定形结构 .这些结果说明施加应力相对于升高温度对于α晶体的生成更为重要 .而热拉伸样品中结晶结构的形成与初生纤维的结构有很大关系 ,低纺速下无定形初生纤维在热拉伸后形成α晶体 ,而高纺速下主要含有 β晶体的初生纤维经热拉伸后 β晶体会部分转变为α晶体 ,且 β晶转变为α晶的难易程度取决于初生纤维中 β晶的完善程度 ,初生纤维中 β晶越完善 ,热拉伸时 β晶体越不易转变为α晶体     

Growth and characterization of (K<Subscript>0.5</Subscript> Na<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>)NbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films by a sol–gel method

(K_0.5 Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) perovskite materials have been developed as a promising lead-free piezoelectric material for environmentally benign piezoelectric devices. KNN films with about 320 nm thickness were fabricated on Pt(111)/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates by a sol–gel method from stoichiometric and A-site ion excess precursor solutions. Two different annealing methods were also used to investigate the crystallographic evolution of the films. A layer-by-layer annealing process results in highly (001) oriented KNN from the annealing temperature of 550 °C, while the final annealing method leads to weaker crystalline peaks with a random orientation. The KNN films from the K and Na excess precursor solutions show similar crystallization behavior. However, the ferroelectric hysteresis loops of the films were greatly improved by compensating for an A-site vacancy. In particular, the KNN films from K-excess precursor solutions show better ferroelectric properties compared to the films prepared from Na excess solutions.     

The structure and properties of oriented fibers of poly(pentamethylene terephthalate). I. Synthesis of polymer and preparation of two different crystalline phases

The synthesis of poly(pentamethylene terephthalate) and its subsequent drawing into highly oriented fiber has proved difficult for two reasons. First, it was difficult to produce polymers of sufficiently high molecular weight to withstand subsequent drawing; and second, because of the slow rate of crystallization of the material, the spun fiber coalesced on the windup bobbin, becoming useless for drawing. Methods are described which overcome these difficulties. Two crystalline phases of the oriented fiber have been discovered. The α form is obtained by annealing under zero or small tension and has a crystallographic repeat along the fiber axis of 24.7 Å compared with a chemical repeat of 14.5 Å. There are evidently two monomers per crystallographic repeat, each appreciably contracted. The β form is obtained by annealing either under high tension or at constant extended length, but in the relaxed fiber it always exists in mixture with the α form. Its crystallographic repeat is 28.2 Å, and so again consists of two monomers; but their conformation is more highly extended than that of the α form. An α-form fiber will transform reversibly to the β form under the influence of mechanical stress.     

热处理对尼龙1010固态结晶和玻璃态热松驰的影响

本文用DSC首先论证淬火尼龙1010试样在DSC曲线上出现的放热峰是冷结晶峰,然后研究淬火尼龙1010在不同热处理条件下,冷结晶峰和玻璃态热松驰峰的变化规律。实验结果表明,等温结晶时间较短,试样的固态结晶速率较快;等温结晶时间较长,固态结晶速率较慢,这可能与在Tg区域等温所形成的新氢键有关。当升高等温温度时,固态结晶速率加快。在低于Tg的不同温度退火,玻璃态热松弛峰的峰高及热焓在281K达最大值,进而确定对玻璃态热松驰影响最敏感的温度区间是277～284K。     

Polyethylene fiber formation in tubular flow. I. Observations of growth pattern and fiber properties

The process of seeded growth of fibrillar polyethylene crystals has been studied in a tubular flow geometry for 0.01-wt % solutions of a high-molecular-weight polyethylene in xylene. The transformation sequence has been followed visually by using polarized-light illumination in conjunction with a video camera. Data are presented to show that transformation is initiated by the formation of a concentrated, unoriented, amorphous precursor fiber within which oriented birefringent crystals subsequently grow in consequence of the stresses transmitted by the flowing solution. Time constants for the precursor formation, birefringence initiation, and completion of birefringence were measured as functions of temperature and flow rate over a range of growth conditions. Wide-angle x-ray diffraction, overall birefringence, and optical hot-stage melting data were also obtained on the grown fibers. The net result of these observations is to conclude that fibrillar crystal growth during flow is always preceded by the formation of a liquidlike phase transformation which produces the concentrated, unoriented precursor. Subsequent orientation is in consequence of stress-induced crystallization with overall fiber orientation showing an increase with solution flow rate at a fixed temperature and a decrease with temperature at a fixed flow rate. At higher temperatures and lower flow rates, birefringence develops in an oscillatory fashion, indicating a remelting process possibly due to slippage of trapped chain entanglements formed by flow. A discussion is given of the implications of these observations for the understanding of flow-induced structure development, phase transformation, and oriented crystallization; this is expanded upon in a companion paper, Part II.     

Strain-induced crystallization of natural rubber. III. Reexamination of axial-stress changes during oriented crystallization of natural rubber vulcanizates

In order critically to evaluate the previous morphological interpretations of stress relaxation during oriented crystallization, a reexamination was made of the relaxation behavior of the same oriented natural rubber material used for the x-ray investigation in Part II of this series. Our results were found to be in qualitative agreement with previously published reports. Comparison of stress-relaxation rates at low temperatures for samples with strains of 200% or more with crystallization rates at room temperature by others for similar elongations indicates a dual nature in the strain-induced crystallization process. This conclusion is in full agreement with the indication of dual crystalline morphologies, namely, fibrillar and lamellar, for both electron microscopy and x-ray investigations on highly stretched samples reported in Parts I and II. Examination of stress-relaxation data in light of morphological evidence for oriented crystallization indicates that caution must be exercised in attaching morphological significance to the Avrami exponent n obtained from stress-relaxation or crystallization data.     

The kinetics of flow-induced crystallization from solution

In situ birefringence measurements of the seeded growth in a tubular flow geometry of 0.01 wt% solution of a polyethylene fraction in xylene have been used to determine the flowinduced crystallization kinetics as a function of temperature and flow rate. In contrast to earlier reports on higher molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene systems, orientational properties of the crystallized fibers do not show a clear correlation with growth conditions (i.e., temperature and flow rate). The combined kinetic data from these experiments and our earlier studies of higher molecular weight polyethylene—xylene and polypropylene—tetralin systems are analyzed in terms of a modified from of the Avrami equation which provides a basis for separately correlating temperature and flow rate effects. The observed temperature dependency of the crystallization process can be interpreted in terms of nucleation and growth models while the flow rate dependency can be interpreted on the basis of entanglement formation arguments. Results showing liquid phase precursor formation in an atactic polystyrene system are also presented to further document the liquidphase separation which can be induced in polymers under flow.     

Enthalpy relaxation of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

The changes which take place on annealing rigid PVC in the vicinity of the glass transition have been followed by differential scanning calorimetry. The changes appear as an increase in the glass-transition temperature and a decrease in the enthalpy with time of annealing. For annealing at 75°C, the enthalpy after 50–100 hr approaches the value characteristic of the equilibrium liquid state. The results obtained for annealing at 65°C and 75°C are in accord with those expected for the relaxation of an amorphous material, and are at variance with those expected on the basis of crystallization taking place on annealing. The enthalpy relaxation process is characterized by a distribution of activation energies centered about 18.8 kcal mole^?1, and seems to reflect a multiplicity of molecular processes.     

The elongation and time dependence of the crystallinity of low-density polyethylene

It has been presumed in studies of the orientation of low-density polyethylene and its time dependence that the degree of crystallinity remained constant with elongation and did not vary with time following elongation. This paper represents a test of this hypothesis by several methods. The change in crystallinity accompanying stretching has been followed by a modification of an x-ray method for uniaxial orientation proposed by Ruland in which diffraction peaks are resolved into crystalline and amorphous components and their respective areas are determined by two-dimensional integration over both the Bragg angle and the azimuthal angle of diffraction. The weight-fraction crystallinity is then determined from the ratio of the weighted crystalline area to the total area. There appears to be no significant variation in crystallinity up to 50% sample elongation for both slowly and rapidly stretched samples at room temperature. The dynamic crystallinity change accompanying small amplitude vibration has also been determined by the dynamic x-ray diffraction technique and found to be negligible over a wide range of frequency. The degree of crystallinity has also been evaluated from the absolute infrared absorbance of crystallinity-sensitive bands and has also been found to be independent of elongation at room temperature up to 80% elongation. Changes have also been observed by this method during relaxation at constant length following rapid extension and have also been found to be negligible. These results also indicate negligible changes in rotational isomer population. Consequently, we conclude that changes observed during relaxation and vibration arise from orientational changes rather than changes in the degree of crystallinity.     

Retardation of dissolution and surface modification of high-modulus poly(ethylene) fiber by the synergetic action of solvent and stress

Retardation of dissolution of highly oriented polyethylene fibers exposed to solvent under a constant tensile force has been investigated in comparison to free conditions. Beyond a critical value of the applied force, the time for dissolution increases sharply by several orders of magnitude. This effect is significant only in fibers with high initial orientation. It is attributed to the existence of a network of oriented crystallites. We have utilized this effect for surface modification of highly oriented PE fibers, by exposure to solvent at different temperatures and applied stress. At a relatively low load the action of the solvent displays pronounced effects: roughening of the fiber surface, formation of a nonoriented crystalline phase, enhancement of adhesion to epoxy resin with some loss of strength. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

取向对物理老化的聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯纤维溶剂诱导结晶速率的影响

通过密度法、ＤＳＣ、力学性能测试等方法研究了物理老化对聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯（ＰＥＴ）纤维溶剂诱导结晶速率及结构的影响，并进一步探讨了取向程度对ＰＥＴ纤维物理老化过程的影响．发现在一定老化温度下，ＰＥＴ纤维的溶剂诱导结晶（ＳＩＮＣ）速率随老化时间的延长呈现先降低后升高的趋势；取向程度高的样品则经较短的老化时间即可出现这种情况．对上述现象用凝聚缠结的观点加以解释．     

Brownian dynamics investigation of magnetization and birefringence relaxations in ferrofluids

Brownian dynamics simulations are used to investigate the dynamics of orientational properties of real charge-stabilized ferrofluids, i.e. stable colloidal dispersions of magnetic nanoparticles. The relaxation times of the magnetization and of the birefringence, data accessible by experimental techniques, have been computed at several volume fractions. Besides, the effect of hydrodynamic interactions has been investigated. Equilibrium simulations without field are found to be inadequate to determine the aforementioned relaxation times for the systems under study, the dipolar interaction being too weak. Thus a nonequilibrium simulation procedure that mimics the experimental operating mode has been developed. After equilibrium simulations under a magnetic field, both birefringence and magnetization decays are recorded once the field is suppressed. Birefringence and magnetization decays are markedly impeded as the volume fraction increases, whereas they are barely enhanced when the intensity of the initial magnetic field is increased at a fixed volume fraction. Eventually, hydrodynamic interactions exhibit a slight but systematic lengthening of the relaxation times.     

Modeling and simulation of morphology variation during the solidification of polymer melts with amorphous and semi‐crystalline phases

The solidification of polymer melts in practical processing such as extrusion, injection molding and blow molding can significantly influence the inner structure and performance of final products. The investigation of its mechanism has both scientific and industrial interests. In the study, the three‐dimensional mathematical model is developed for the simulation of morphology variation in the solidification of polymer melts with amorphous and semi‐crystalline phases. The amorphous phase is simulated as the finite extensible nonlinear elastic dumbbell with a peterlin closure approximation (FENE‐P) fluid and the semi‐crystalline phase is approximated as rigid rods that grow and oriented in the flow field. The model of amorphous phase and semi‐crystalline phase are coupled through the stress and momentum balance and the feedback of crystallinity to the system relaxation time. The evolution of crystallization kinetics process are described by using a set of Schneider equation that discriminating the relative roles of the thermal and the flow effect on the crystallization behavior. With the standard Galerkin formulation adopted as basic computational framework, the discrete elastic viscous stress splitting algorithm in cooperating with the streamline upwinding approach serves as a relatively robust numerical scheme by using penalty finite element–finite difference simulation with a decoupled solving algorithm. The proposed mathematical model and numerical method have been successfully applied to the investigation of solidification of polymer melts in the extrusion process. The variations of orientation and crystallization morphology during the solidification process are further discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Proton spin-lattice relaxation studies. N-aryl-1-isoindolinones

Proton spin-lattice relaxation rates (R₁ values) have been measured, at 270 MHz, for a series of N-aryl isoindolinones. A normalization procedure has been used to enable comparison of R₁ values in different compounds by minimizing the effects on relaxation rates of changes in motional correlation times accompanying changes in substitution patterns. A substantial (4.3-fold) dynamic range of R₁ values has been observed, and individual values have been correlated with the molecular environments of the nuclei. There is evidence for an interring relaxation process.     

Annealing Effect on Electrospun Polymer Fibers and Their Transformation into Polymer Microspheres

Electrospinning is a simple and convenient technique to produce polymer fibers with diameters ranging from several nanometers to a few micrometers. Different types of polymer fibers have been prepared by electrospinning for various applications. Among different post‐treatment methods of electrospun polymer fibers, the annealing process plays a critical role in controlling the fiber properties. The morphology changes of electrospun polymer fibers under annealing, however, have been little studied. Here we investigate the annealing effect of electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fibers and their transformation into PMMA microspheres. PMMA fibers with an average size of 2.39 μm are first prepared by electrospinning a 35 wt% PMMA solution in dimethylformamide. After the electrospun fibers are thermally annealed in ethylene glycol, a non‐solvent for PMMA, the surfaces of the fibers undulate and transform into microspheres driven by the Rayleigh instability. The driving force of the transformation process is the minimization of the interfacial energy between the polymer fibers and ethylene glycol. The sizes of the microspheres fit well with the theoretical predictions. Longer annealing times are found to be required at lower temperatures to obtain the microspheres.     

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

弄清取向非晶态聚合物在热处理过程中的收缩和伸长的变化规律,以及所对应的结构变化,有较大的实用意义和科学意义。 对于取向聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯的热收缩和热伸长已有很多研究,但对于拉伸热历史对取向PET在热处理过程中的尺寸变化的影响尚缺乏系统的研究。在热拉伸的过程中发生分子链的取向、热弛豫和结晶三个相互竞争的过程。因此,改变拉伸条件可以得到具有各种不同取向和结晶的PET试样。当非晶态PET膜片在80-105℃以较低