Crystallization of poly(phenylenesulfide)/amorphous polyamide blends: DSC and microscopic studies

Poly(phenylenesulfide) (PPS) is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic with exceptional thermal and chemical resistance. The results of crystallization behavior of blends of PPS with amorphous polyamide (PA) are presented. The melting and crystallization behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the crystalline morphology was studied using optical microscopy. The results of thermal analysis indicate that the blends exhibit composition-dependent melting point depression. Optical microscopy studies showed the uniform distribution of amorphous nylon in PPS spherulites. The presence of amorphous nylon enhanced the growth rate compared to that for the neat polymer. The observed changes in the equilibrium melting point crystallization behavior, and spherulitic growth rate are explained.