STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF PEKEKK（T／I） USING WAXD, IMAGING PLATES AND SAXS

Structures and crystal form transition of the novel aryl ether ketone polymer containing meta-phenylene linkage: PEKEKK(T/I) were investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), imaging plates (IPs) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The energy of activation of the decomposition reaction and degree of crystallinity of PEKEKK(T/I) were determined by WAXD and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Results obtained fi‘om WAXD and IPs show that crystal forms I and II coexist in the PEKEKK(T/I) samples isothermally cold crystallized in the temperature range from 180℃ to 240℃ and only form I occurs in PEKEKK(T/I) samples isothermally cold crystallized at 270℃. The radius of gyration (Rg), thickness of microregions with electron-density fluctuations (E) and distribution of particle sizes were investigated by SAXS.     

Structure and properties of gel-spun ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers with high gel solution concentration

The gel-spun ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE) fibers were prepared at the industrial production line with different gel solution concentrations of 15 wt%, 18 wt% and 24 wt%. The difference in ultimate structure and mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers for different gel solution concentrations were analyzed by tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction(WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS). With the increase of gel solution concentration, the ultimate mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers were decreased and the crystallization and orientation of UHMWPE fibers became inferior. Besides, both the average shish length(〈L _(shish)〉) and shish misorientation(B_φ) of UHMWPE fibers were decreased with the increase of gel solution concentration. In addition, the appropriate increase of spinning temperature led to the further optimization of the ultimate structure and mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers.     

THE DOUBLE MELTING PEAKS OF POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)

Three sets of PET samples, comprising original (undrawn), uniaxially drawn and biaxially ones, after annealed at 230°, 240°and 250℃respectively, were subjected to DSC thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and IR analysis. The results indicate that the phenomenon of double melting peaks during DSC analysis is due to the partial melting and recrystallization of the crystallite at the moment of thermal scanning. The lower temperature peak, which varies slightly according to annealing condition, corresponds to the melting of imperfect crystallite, and the higher temperature peak corresponds to the melting of better organized crystallite. In the course of temperature scanning, the unit cell parameters of PET remains unchanged while the crystals turn to better crystal lattice, greater crystal size and more regular folding.We also found that there is a slight reduction in crystal size between the two melting peaks, and an explanation is suggested for this phenomenon.     

STRUCTURAL PHASE TRANSITION OF ALIPHATIC NYLONS VIEWED FROM THE WAXD/SAXS AND VIBRATIONAL SPECTRAL MEASUREMENTS AND MOLECULAR DYNAMICS CALCULATION

The crystalline phase transition of aliphatic nylon 10/10 has been investigated on the basis of the simultaneous measurement of wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scatterings, the infrared spectral measurement and the molecular dynamics calculation. An interpretation of infrared spectra taken for a series of nylon samples and the corresponding model compounds was successfully made, allowing us to assign the infrared bands of the planar-zigzag methylene segments reasonably. As a result the methylene segmental parts of molecular chains were found to experience an order-to-disorder transition in the Brill transition region, where the intermolecular hydrogen bonds are kept alive although the bond strength becomes weaker at higher temperature. The small-angle X-ray scattering data revealed a slight change in lamellar stacking mode in the transition region. The crystal structure has been found to change more remarkably in the temperature region immediately below the melting point, where the conformationally disordered chains experienced drastic rotational and translational motions without any constraints by hydrogen bonds, and the lamellar thickness increased largely along the chain axis. These experimental results were reasonably reproduced by the molecular dynamics calculation performed at the various temperatures.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLYSTYRENE／LAPONITE NANOCOMPOSITES

Exfoliated polystyrene (PS)/laponite nanocomposites were prepared successfully. The characteristic doo1 diffraction peak of organo-laponite disappeared in the XRD patterns of nanocomposites, indicating that the laponite layers were exfoliated and the ordered crystal structure of laponite was destroyed because of the styrene polymerization. TEM observations showed that the exfoliated laponite primary particles were dispersed randomly in the PS matrix with lateral dimensions from 1 nm to 10 rim. SEM results showed that the PS/laponite nanocomposite particles were almost monodispersed spheres with the size of about 120 rim. Because of the interaction between PS and laponite nanolayers, the nanocomposites exhibited higher thermal stability and glass transition temperature when compared to pure PS.     

Crystallization kinetics and the fine morphological evolution of poly(ethylene oxide)/ionic liquid mixtures

The overall crystallization kinetics and spherulite morphologies of miscible poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate([BMIM][PF_6]) mixtures were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),polarized optical microscopy(POM) and rheological measurements. The finer crystal structures were further detected by wide angle X-ray diffraction(WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS). Crystallization of PEO is largely suppressed by [BMIM][PF_6] addition especially at higher ionic liquid(IL) concentrations above 20 wt%. Both the overall crystallization rate and the spherulite growth decrease with the increase of IL content and crystallization temperature; however, the crystallization mechanism keeps unchanged as evidenced by the similar Avrami exponent n and WAXD results. The addition of [BMIM][PF_6] could induce more nuclei to some extent, but the induction time of crystallization is evidently prolonged,and a linear to non-linear transition of the spherulite growth(R ∝ t to R ∝ t~(1/2)) can be observed. At higher IL concentration,the spherulite texture changes apparently from particular serrated to branch surface due to the diffusion-controlled growth and the dilution effect, which also as a main factor contributes to the increasing trend of the long period of crystals.     

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.     

X-ray Multiple Diffraction Topographic Imaging Technique For Growth History Study of Habit Modifying Impurity Doped Crystals

A novel crystal characterization instrument has been built up in which a combination of X-ray multiple diffraction and X-ray topography is applied to enabling the cross-correlation between micro-crystallographic symmetry and its spatial dependence in relation to lattice defects. This facility is used to examine, in a self-consistent manner, growth sector-dependant changes to both the crystallographic structure and the lattice de-fects associated with the action of habit-modifying additives in a number of representative crystal growth sys-tems. In addition, the new instrument can be used to probe micro-crystallographic aspects(such as distortion to crystal symmetry) and relate these in a spatially resolved manner to the crystal defect structure in crystals doped with known habit modifiers.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL CHIRAL SMECTIC C(Sc*) PHASE SHISH-KEBAB TYPE LIQUID CRYSTALLINE BLOCK COPOLYMERS*

A new series of chiral shish-kebab type liquid crystal block copolymers that form the smecticC(Sc~*) phase was synthesized by solution polycondensation. The copolymers were characterized by GPC.DSC. TG, POM. X-ray diffraction and polarimeter. The copolymers 7 entered into liquid crystal phase whenthey were heated to their melting temperatures (T_m) and the copolymers 8 were in liquid crystal phase at roomtemperature with low viscosities. The smectic sanded texture or focal-conic texture were observed on POM.All the chiral block copolymers showed high optical activity. No racemization has happened. Temperature-variable X-ray diffraction study together with POM and polarimetric analysis realized that they are chiralsmectic C(Sc~*) phase. Thus we offer in this report the first example of shish-kebab type liquid crystal blockcopolymers that form a chiral smectic C(Sc~*) phase. The variation of melting and isotropization temperatureswith molecular structure was also discussed.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Antiproliferative Activity of 2-（（（5-（（（5,7-Dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidin-2-yl）thio）methyl）-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl）thio）methyl）-4Hchromen-4-one Methanol Solvate

The novel crystal of the title compound 2-(((5-(((5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1, 5-a]-pyrimidin-2-yl)thio)methyl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one methanol solvate(C27H25N7O3S2, Mr = 559.66) has been prepared and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to the monocline system, space group P21/c with a = 11.9879(9), b = 14.0743(10), c = 15.9706(11), β = 98.509(2)°, V = 2664.9(3)3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.395 g/cm3, F(000) = 1168, μ = 0.116 mm-1, MoKa radiation(λ = 0.71073), R = 0.0652, and wR = 0.1425 for 5220 observed reflections with I 2σ(I). X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that the molecule adopts a C-shape. The planes of the benzopyrone and triazolopyrimidine were nearly parallel to each other, with a dihedral angle of 1.21(3)°. Intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds together with π-π interations are found to exist in the structure. The results of MTT assay indicate that the title compound displays excellent antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines.     

Plasticization and cocrystallization in LLDPE/wax blends

The structure and thermal properties of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)/medium soft paraffin wax blends, prepared by melt mixing, were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS). The blends form a single phase in the melt as determined by SAXS. Upon cooling from the melt, two crystalline phases develop for blends with more than 10 wt % wax characterized by widely different melting points. The wax acts as an effective plasticizer for LLDPE, decreasing both its crystallization and melting temperature. The higher melting point crystalline phase is formed by less branched LLDPE fractions. On the other hand, the lower melting point crystalline phase is a wax‐rich phase constituted by cocrystals of extended chain wax and short linear sequences of highly branched LLDPE chains. The presence of cocrystals was evidenced by standard DSC results, successive self‐nucleation and annealing (SSA) thermal fractionation and by the detection of a new SAXS signal attributed to the lamellar long period of the cocrystals. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1469–1482     

Wide and small-angle X-ray scattering study of isotactic polypropylene gamma irradiated in bulk

Gamma irradiated isotactic polypropylene (IPP) has been studied by means of wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The skin layer has been investigated by WAXS reflection mode while the core layer underwent WAXS studies by transmission mode. β-IPP has been found solely in the skin layer. An increase in the β-phase has been observed as result of the irradiation. A phase transitions and decrease of crystallite sizes have been also observed. All of the parameters show a sharp change at a critical dose of 100 kGy. At this point the system parameters reverse. Radiation processes proceeding up to 100 kGy called radiation annealing are related to the improved crystallite perfection and thus emphasize the phase boundary. The processes provoke at higher radiation doses, up to 2000 kGy, damage in both crystal and amorphous lamellar parts. The values of the crystal and amorphous densities get closer and the process is similar to the partial radiation melting.     

Multiaxial deformation of polyethylene and polyethylene/clay nanocomposites: in situ synchrotron small angle and wide angle X‐ray scattering study

A unique in situ multiaxial deformation device has been designed and built specifically for simultaneous synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) measurements. SAXS and WAXS patterns of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE/clay nanocomposites were measured in real time during in situ multiaxial deformation at room temperature and at 55 °C. It was observed that the morphological evolution of polyethylene is affected by the existence of clay platelets as well as the deformation temperature and strain rate. Martensitic transformation of orthorhombic into monoclinic crystal phases was observed under strain in HDPE, which is delayed and hindered in the presence of clay nanoplatelets. From the SAXS measurements, it was observed that the thickness of the interlamellar amorphous region increased with increasing strain, which is due to elongation of the amorphous chains. The increase in amorphous layer thickness is slightly higher for the nanocomposites compared to the neat polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Synchrotron SAXS and WAXS Studies on Changes in Structural and Thermal Properties of Poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] Single Crystals during Heating

Summary: The annealing and melting behavior of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)) single crystals were followed in real time by synchrotron small‐ (SAXS) and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) measurements. The real‐time SAXS measurements revealed that the P(3HB) single crystal exhibits a discontinuous increase of lamellar thickness during heating. The structural changes as observed by SAXS and WAXS were in response to the thermal properties of single crystals characterized by differential scanning calorimetry.

A series of two‐dimensional small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns of P(3HB) single crystal mats during the lamellar thickening process.     

Evolution of Morphology and Structure During Crystallization and Melting in Syndiotactic Polypropylene

Polypropylene( PP) has developed into one of the most useful plastic materials.Ithas many attractive properties,among them,a relatively low price.It also possesses awide range of possibilities for chemical modification[1 ,2 ] .The structure and morphologyof PP have a directimpacton the final properties. Therefore,there is growing interestinunderstanding the structure and morphology of stereoregular PP[1～ 6] .　For isotactic PP(i PP) ,extensive structural and morphological studies have be…     

Investigation by combined solid‐state NMR and SAXS methods of the morphology and domain size in polystyrene‐b‐polyethylene oxide‐b‐polystyrene triblock copolymers

The microphase structure of a series of polystyrene‐b‐polyethylene oxide‐b‐polystyrene (SEOS) triblock copolymers with different compositions and molecular weights has been studied by solid‐state NMR, DSC, wide and small angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS and SAXS). WAXS and DSC measurements were used to detect the presence of crystalline domains of polyethylene‐oxide (PEO) blocks at room temperature as a function of the copolymer chemical composition. Furthermore, DSC experiments allowed the determination of the melting temperatures of the crystalline part of the PEO blocks. SAXS measurements, performed above and below the melting temperature of the PEO blocks, revealed the formation of periodic structures, but the absence or the weakness of high order reflections peaks did not allow a clear assessment of the morphological structure of the copolymers. This information was inferred by combining the results obtained by SAXS and ¹H NMR spin diffusion experiments, which also provided an estimation of the size of the dispersed phases of the nanostructured copolymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 55–64, 2010     

Phase transitions in poly(heptane-1,7-diyl biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate). SAXS,WAXS and DSC study

The main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline poly(heptane-1,7-diyl biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate) (P7MB) was investigated by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and differential scanning calorimerty (DSC). Nonisothermal crystallisation with different rates of cooling and heating was used. On cooling, two phase transitions are observed, isotropic melt - smectic (I-Sm) and Sm- three-dimensional crystalline structure (Sm-Cr), whereas on heating only one transition is observed, Cr-I transition. The transition enthalpies were calculated. Temperature dependences of d-spacings of all crystalline peaks and of the peak observed at high values of scattering vector in the SAXS region were derived. The temperature dependence of the degree of crystallinity was established, based on the integrated intensities of the crystalline peaks and amorphous halo in WAXS.     

Rapid internal bubble formation in a microwave heated polymer observed in real-time by X-ray scattering

A combined study of small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) of the melting of a nylon-6 sample by localized microwave radiation has shown that this method can reveal the presence of bubbles forming and disappearing rapidly in real time in the interior of the sample due to its thermal decomposition.     

Effects of processing on the structure of zein/oleic Acid films investigated by x-ray diffraction

Zein films plasticized with oleic acid were formed by solution casting, by the stretching of moldable resins, and by blown film extrusion. The effects of the forming process on film structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns showed d-spacings at 4.5 and 10 A, which were attributed to the zein alpha-helix backbone and inter-helix packing, respectively. The 4.5 A d-spacing remained stable under processing while the 10 A d-spacing varied with processing treatment. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) detected a long-range periodicity for the formed films but not for unprocessed zein, which suggests that the forming process-promoted film structure development is possibly aided by oleic acid. The SAXS d-spacing varied among the samples (130-238 A) according to zein origin and film-forming method. X-ray scattering data suggest that the zein molecular structure resists processing but the zein supramolecular arrangements in the formed films are dependent on processing methods. Structural model for a zein molecular aggregate (based on Matsushima et al.10). Rectangular prisms of individual zein molecules are hexagonally aligned parallel to each other.     

Structural Evolution of LLDPE-LMW/HMW Blend during Uniaxial Deformation as Revealed by In Situ Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Scattering

The structural evolutions of LLDPE-LMW/HMW blend during uniaxial deformation at temperatures of 80 and 120 ℃ were investigated by the in situ synchrotron radiation small-and wide-angle X-ray scattering(SR-SAXS/WAXS). The magic sandwich echo(MSE) sequence was used to detect a virtually dead-time-free induction decay(FID) for solid-state NMR analysis. The thermal property of the blend was first checked by DSC,and the temperature dependence of the overall crystallinity was obtained by MSE-FID. The onset melting temperature is determined to be 116 ℃(DSC), and the enhanced π-flip motions in the crystalline domains are clearly observed at T60 ℃ by MSE-FID. For deformation at 80 ℃, the lamellae become staggered in the strain-softening region as shown by the four-point SAXS pattern, whereas further deformation leads to the melting-recrystallization in the strain-hardening region. For deformation at 120 ℃, the six-point SR-SAXS signal appears just after the four-point SR-SAXS signal, which indicates the formation of new lamellae along deformation direction. In addition, no phase transition occurs in the whole deformation process at both temperatures. Current work shows the detailed temperature dependence microstructural evolution of LLDPELMW/HMW blend. This is expected to provide more structural information for correlating microscopic structure with macroscopic mechanical performance.