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

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

DENSITY, EQUILIBRIUM HEAT OF FUSION AND EQUILIBRIUM MELTING TEMPERATURE OF NYLON 1010

The density, equilibrium heat of fusion and equilibrium melting temperature of Nylon 1010 were determined by means of infrared spectrum, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and density measurement techniques. According to Starkweatber' s method crystalline density ρ_c and amorphous density ρ_a were estimated to be 1.098 and 1.003 g/cm~3 respectively by extrapolating the straight lines of the IR absorbanee against density to zero intensity. Owing to the less intense in absorbance and less sensitive to the change in crystallinity of the amorphors band the thus obtained ρ_c was too low in value. Thereby the value of the ratio ρ_c /ρ_a is far less than generally accepted mean value for most crystalline polymers. Accordingly, traditional X-ray diffraction method was used through determining thc crystalline dimension(a=4.9, b=5.4, c=27.8, α=49°β=77.0°, γ=63.5°), and a rather correct value of ρ_c or the crystal density 1.13 g/cm~3 was obtained. The equilibrium heat of fusion △H_m~0 was estimated to be 244.0 J/g piotting △H_m 's of specimens with different crystallinity against their corre sponding specific volumes _(sp), and extrapolating to completely crystalline condition (_(sp)~c= 1/ρ_c) As to the equilibrium melting temperature T_m~0, because of the easiness of recrystallization of melt crystallized Nylon 1010 specimen, the well-known Hoffman's T_m-T_c method failed in determining this value and an usually rarely used Kamide double extrapolation method was adopted. The so obtained value of T_m~0 487 seems to be fairly reasonable.