| Abstract: | An unusual crystalline aggregate, which is toroidal in shape, has been formed at the entrance region to capillary dies during the high-pressure extrusion of poly(ethylene terephthalate) melts in an Instron capillary rheometer. The toroidal remnant was discovered in capillary dies removed from the rheometer after the occurrence of oscillating flow. Detailed observations of the rheological factors involved in the formation of the crystalline toroid were made. Examination of recovered entrance plugs disclosed that the crystalline toroid was a hard, stagnant zone which throttled the bulk flow of polymer melt into the capillary during the extrusion experiments. Hot-stage optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide-angle x-ray techniques were used to initiate a structural study of the crystalline toroid. The toroid contained clusters of fibrous crystals which persisted to high temperatures. The fibrous clusters were randomly oriented in a matrix polymer which melted normally. Based upon the rheological and structural evidence, a mechanism of crystalline toroid formation is proposed. |
