Thermal dependence of nucleation and growth rate in polypropylene by non isothermal calorimetry

Crystallization of polypropylene at a constant cooling rate is studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The results are interpreted using Ozawas theory, which allows the determination of the type of nucleation. In the studied polypropylene, a transition between a sporadic in time and an instantaneous nucleation is found at about 122 °C. Furthermore, an extension of Ozawa's theory is proposed to predict the thermal dependence of the spherulite growth rate. The results are consistent with those obtained by direct microscopic observation.     

Molecular fractionation in isotactic polypropylene during isothermal crystallization

The nucleation frequency of isotactic polypropylene shows for certain molecular weight distributions during isothermal crystallization a “stepwise” development of the nuclei as a function of time. The resulting curve can be fitted by a superposition of exponential functions assuming a separate nucleation density for each nucleation step. The multimodal nucleation is discussed as a consequence of molecular fractionation effects during crystallization. Received: 23 October 1997 Accepted: 12 May 1998     

马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯共聚物的球晶径向生长速率和形态

本文用偏光显微镜和DSC研究了马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯共聚物的形态,球晶径向生长速率及结晶熔融行为。马来酸酐与聚丙烯在接枝共聚物中是部分互容的。按照相容性共混高聚物结晶动力学理论计算,Ⅲ区向Ⅱ区转变的温度为132℃,接枝共聚物的结晶平衡熔点为200℃,比全同聚丙烯的相应值低8℃。     

Studies on the Crystallization Behavior of Polypropylene Solid Phase Grafted Maleic Anhydride

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Structure and morphology development in syndiotactic polypropylene during isothermal crystallization and subsequent melting

Structure and morphology development during the isothermal crystallization and subsequent melting of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), time‐resolved simultaneous small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) methods with synchrotron radiation. The morphology of sPP isothermally crystallized at 100 °C for 3 h was also characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Time‐ and temperature‐dependent parameters such as the long period (L), crystal lamellar thickness (l_c), amorphous layer thickness (l_a), scattering invariant (Q), crystallinity (X_c), lateral crystal sizes (L₂₀₀ and L₀₁₀), and unit cell dimensions (a and b) were extracted from the SAXS and WAXD data. Results indicate that the decreases in L and l_c with time are probably due to the formation of thinner crystal lamellae, and the decreases in a and b are due to crystal perfection. The changes in the morphological parameters (Q, X_c, L, and l_c) during subsequent melting exhibited a two‐stage process that was consistent with the multiple melting peaks observed in DSC. The two high‐temperature peaks can be attributed to the melting of primary lamellae (at lower temperatures) and recrystallized lamellae (at higher temperatures). An additional minor peak, located at the lowest temperature, was also visible and was related to the melting of thin and defective secondary lamellae. TEM results are consistent with the SAXS data, which supports the assignment of the larger value (l₁) from the correlation function analysis as l_c. WAXD showed that the thermal expansion was greater along the b axis than the a axis during melting. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2982–2995, 2001     

尼龙1010球晶的熔融

本文利用偏光显微镜研究了尼龙1010等温结晶所生成的几类球晶的熔融现象,测得正环状球晶的熔点(T_m)为182℃,正放射球晶T_m=203℃;混合放射球晶T_m=202～205℃;暗负放射球晶T_m=204～210℃;亮负放射球晶T_m=205～210℃。利用Hoffman T_m-T_ε外推法测得其平衡熔点T_m~0=215℃。     

Effect of random copolymerization on growth transition and morphology change in polypropylene

The growth rate of an ethylene-propylene random copolymer with a 2.8% w/w ethylene content was studied in a similar manner to polypropylene. A growth regime transition associated with a birefringence change was observed at 130C, while the same phenomena appeared at 138C in isotactic polypropylene. In both polymers positive birefringence corresponds to Regime III, whereas negative birefringence of spherulites is associated with Regime II. The birefringence change is attributed to a change in the organization of crystalline lamellae: quadritic arrays of intercrossing lamellae at low temperature (Regime III) and preferentially radiating lamellae at higher temperature (Regime II). We confirm that such a morphological change can be interpreted using the concept of non-adjacent re-entry introduced in Hoffman's kinetic theory. Thus, quadritic morphology seems to have a partly kinetic origin. The shift of the transition temperature in the copolymer is due to the rejection of ethylene segments at the surface of crystalline lamellae of polypropylene.     

Crystallization and equilibrium melting behavior of PBT/PETG blends

The results of studies of equilibrium melting point and crystallization behavior of PBT/PETG blends are reported for the first time. A single composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperature is observed in the DSC studies. The isothermal crystallization studies of the blends indicate retardation in crystallization rate as evidenced by the increase in crystallization half time. The retardation in crystallization rate has been attributed to the miscibility in the molten state and the hindrance to the diffusion of crystallizable units. This assumption is further supported by the composition dependence of the crystallization half time. A composition‐dependent melting point depression has been observed which has been attributed to the possible thermodynamic and morphological effects. The interaction parameter calculated by analyzing equilibrium melting point depression shows composition‐dependent negative values confirming the miscibility of the systems. These results are in good agreement with our earlier results on mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of PBT/PETG blends. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2439–2444, 1999     

Macromorphology of polypropylene homopolymer tacticity mixtures

The macromorphology of isotactic/atactic (iPP/aPP) and isotactic/syndiotactic (iPP/sPP) polypropylene mixtures is examined by optical microscopy. The spherulitic macrostructure of equimolecular weight [weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) = 200k] iPP/aPP blends is volume‐filling to very high aPP concentrations when the crystallization temperature is 130 °C. Similar spherulitic macrostructures (spherulite size and volume‐filling nature) are observed for iPP homopolymer and a 50/50 iPP/aPP blend at low crystallization temperatures (115–135 °C). At higher crystallization temperatures (140–145 °C), a equimolecular weight (M_w = 200k) 50/50 iPP/aPP blend exhibits nodular texture that blurs the spherulitic boundaries. Double temperature jump experiments show that the nodular texture is due to melt phase separation that develops prior to crystallization. The upper critical solution temperature (UCST) of a 50/50 iPP/aPP blend (M_w = 200k) lies below 155 °C, and the blend is miscible at conventional melt processing temperatures. The UCST behavior is controlled by the blend molecular weight and aPP microstructure. aPP microstructures containing increased isospecific sequencing (although still noncrystalline) exhibit a reduced tendency for phase separation in 50/50 mixtures (M_w = 200k) and the absence of nodular texture at low undercoolings (140–145 °C). Equimolecular weight (M_w = 200k) 50/50 iPP/sPP mixtures exhibit phase‐separated texture at all crystallization temperatures. The size scale of the phase‐separated texture decreases with decreasing crystallization temperature because of a competition between crystallization and phase separation from a melt initially well mixed from the initial solution blending process. Extended melt annealing experiments show that the 50/50 iPP/sPP mixture (M_w = 200k) is immiscible in the melt at conventional melt processing temperatures. The iPP/sPP pair shows a much stronger tendency for phase separation than the iPP/aPP polymer pair. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1947–1964, 2000     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The equilibrium melting enthalpy and the equilibrium melting temperature of nylon‐46 were determined to be 155.58 J/g and 307.10 °C, respectively. The isothermal crystallization process was described by the Avrami equation. The lateral surface free energy and the end surface free energy of nylon‐46 were calculated to be 8.28 and 138.54 erg/cm², respectively. The work of chain folding was determined to be 7.12 kcal/mol. The activation energies were determined to be 568.25 and 337.80 kJ/mol for isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization, respectively. A convenient method was applied to describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 by a combination of the Avrami and Ozawa equations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1784–1793, 2002     

Interaction parameters of crystalline/crystalline polypropylene/poly(butene‐1) blends: Effect of molecular fractionation

Compatibility of crystalline/crystalline polypropylene (PP)/poly(butene‐1) (PB‐1) blends was investigated via the method of equilibrium melting temperature depression followed by determining the polymer–polymer interaction parameter (χ) using the Nishi–Wang equation. The composition variation of the equilibrium melting temperatures of blends (T) was determined with the Hoffman–Weeks plot. The T and its variation with the blend composition depended on the crystallization temperature range. The morphological effect of the blend composition was not a contribution factor for the T depressions of PP and PB‐1 in the blends. The interplay of the dilution effect and molecular fractionation effect of the amorphous component on crystallization of the crystalline component in the blends governed the relation of T with the blend composition. The calculated χ values were negative depending on the blend composition. The negative χ values suggested that PP and PB‐1 in the amorphous region were compatible. The composition variation of the χ values was attributed to the molecular fractionation effect during crystallization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 638–648, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10125     

Self‐decelerated crystallization in blends of polyhydroxyether of bisphenol A and poly(ethylene oxide) upon isothermal crystallization

The growth of spherulites of poly(ethylene oxide) in blends with poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) was investigated. In a very narrow range of crystallization temperatures, the spherulite growth deviates from the usual constant growth rate regime in a systematic manner in which the growth rate decreases with time. This is explained by local and overall changes in the composition with the proceeding crystallization that are due to the competition between the crystallization and diffusional chain displacement rates, respectively. These kinetic phenomena and processes can quantitatively be described by a suitable analysis of the experimental findings. Deceleration is predominantly caused by a slowing of the chain motion by the glass‐transition temperature being approached (i.e., vitrification) and, to a lesser extent, by dilution. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1250–1257, 2000     

Microthermal analysis of the melting behavior in zone‐drawn isotactic polypropylene fibers

A microthermal analysis (μTA) method with an ultrahigh heating rate was applied to a zone‐drawn isotactic polypropylene fiber to evaluate the melting behaviors inherent to the microstructural changes occurring during the drawing process. The μTA melting point decreased with a reduction in the melting temperature because of the suppression of crystal reorganization and increased with an increase in the melting temperature because of the suppression of the relief of the orientation of the molecular chains, in comparison with the conventional melting point obtained by traditional differential scanning calorimetry. This study examined a convenient and powerful method for investigating the melting behavior for polymeric materials inherent to the original microstructure with less influence from thermal‐measurement heating. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3677–3681, 2004     

Crystallization and melting of isotactic polypropylene in response to temperature modulation

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was crystallized using temperature modulation in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) to thicken the crystals formed on cooling from the melt. A cool-heat modulation method was adopted for the preparation of the samples under a series of conditions. The effect of modulation parameters, such as temperature amplitude and period was monitored with the heating rate that followed. Thickening of the lamellae as a result of the crystallization treatment enabled by the cool-heat method lead to an increase in the peak melting temperature and the final traces of melting. For instance, iPP melting peak shifted by up to 3.5°C with temperature amplitude of 1.0°C while the crystallinity was increased from 0.45 (linearly cooled) to 0.53. Multiple melting endotherms were also observed in some cases, but this was sensitive to the temperature changes experienced on cooling. Even with a slower underlying cooling rate and small temperature amplitudes, some recrystallization and reorganization occurred during the subsequent heating scan. The crystallinity was increased significantly and this was attributed to the crystal perfection that occurred at the crystal growth surface. In addition, temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) has been used to study the melting of iPP for various crystallization treatments. The reversing and non-reversing contribution under the experimental time scale was modified by the relative crystal stability formed during crystallization. Much of the melting of iPP was found to be irreversible.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Shear-induced crystallization in phase-separated blends of isotactic polypropylene with ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer

The compatibility between isotactic polypropylene(i PP) and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer(EPDM) in the blends was studied. SAXS analysis indicates that i PP and EPDM phases in the binary blend are incompatible. Isothermal crystallization behaviors of i PP in phase-separated i PP/EPDM were studied by in situ POM equipped with a Linkam shear hot stage. It was found that typical spherulites of i PP were formed both in neat i PP and in i PP/EPDM blends. The radial growth rate(d R/dt) of spherulites of i PP in the blend was not influenced by EPDM phases. Further investigations on isothermal crystallization of i PP in i PP/EPDM after shear with a fixed shear time showed that the crystallization rate of i PP in the blends increased with increasing shear rates, whereas, the crystallization rate was much lower than that of neat i PP. WAXD results showed that ?-crystal i PP was formed in neat i PP as well as in i PP/EPDM blends after shearing and the percentage of ?-crystal bore a relationship to the applied shear rate. The presence of EPDM resulted in lower percentage of ?-crystal in the blends than that in neat i PP under the same constant shear conditions. SAXS experiments revealed that shear flow could induce formation of oriented lamellae in i PP and i PP in the blends, and the presence of EPDM led to a reduced fraction of oriented lamellae.     

Investigations of the equilibrium melting temperature in PBT and PC/PBT blends

The melting behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate) and its blends with bisphenol-A polycarbonate was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The aim of this work was to determine the equilibrium melting temperature and its dependence on the blend composition using the Hoffman-Weeks plots. It is shown that the critical analysis of various influences on the melting peak is necessary for the reorganization processes and crystallized content of blends. The experimental conditions and the corrections of measured temperatures were derived and discussed. It was found that the use of the extrapolated onset temperature T_m,o of the melting peak is more efficient than the maximum temperature T_m for the Hoffman-Weeks plots. The equilibrium values of pure PBT are determined to be T^o_m,o = 501 K and T^o_m = 506 K. The equilibrium temperatures of the blends do not show a depression with increasing PC content. Using the Nishi-Wang relation, the results can be qualitatively interpreted with a polymer-polymer interaction coefficient χ ≥ 0 between both components. A weak increase in the equilibrium temperature with increasing PC content was observed. A hypothesis to explain this is based on the possibility of a changed population of the different spherulites with various melting temperatures in dependence on PC content. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Melt-crystallization, glass transition and morphology of a (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate pentamer

The melt-crystallization of an oligo[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] with five repeating units has been analyzed using standard and temperature-modulated calorimetry, optical microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Specimens of different crystallinity and supermolecular structure were generated by variation of the rate of cooling of a quiescent melt, or by variation of the temperature of isothermal crystallization. Completely amorphous samples can be obtained by cooling of the melt at a rate of 40 K min⁻¹, or faster, to a temperature lower than the glass transition. The crystallinity depends on the crystallization temperature. The maximum enthalpy-based crystallinity of about 40-45% is obtained by crystallization at temperatures lower than the temperature of the maximum crystallization rate, which is between 310 and 320 K. Analysis of the apparent heat capacity in metastable structural equilibrium reveals reversible melting at temperatures between 320 and 370 K by observation of an excess heat capacity above the level of the vibrational heat capacity, i.e., in the temperature range of irreversible reorganization and melting. The reversible melting is discussed in the context of coupling of the crystalline and amorphous phases, and compared to earlier studies on oligoethylene and oligo(oxyethylene). The presence of crystals causes formation of a rigid amorphous fraction of about 30% at a crystallinity of 40%. Optical and atomic force microscopy reveal spherulitic crystallization. At relatively high crystallization temperature, and in the early stage of the crystallization process, dendrites are observed which finally yield spherulites of decreased perfection. Larger spherulites of higher perfection grow at relatively low crystallization temperature, as deduced from the appearance of the Maltese cross, and the regularity of banding. The band spacing is less than 5 μm, as is accurately determined by atomic force microscopy. The temperature dependence of the spherulitic growth rate is in accord with the calorimetric analysis of the crystallization rate.     

Isotactic polypropylene reversible crystallization investigated by modulated temperature and quasi‐isothermal FTIR

Modulated temperature techniques allow to separate the reversing and non‐reversing contributions of material transitions. To investigate reversible crystallization and melting of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) at microstructural level, in this research, modulated temperature Fourier transform infrared (MTFTIR) and quasi‐isothermal FTIR (QIFTIR) analyses are used. By following the intensity variation of iPP regularity bands, associated with 3₁ helix structures of different lengths (n repeating units), MTFTIR evidences that, independently from helix length, a reversing coil–helix transition takes place few degrees below the non‐reversing crystallization onset. By comparing spectroscopic and differential scanning calorimetry experiments performed in quasi‐isothermal conditions, the reversing transition was found to be associated with the reversible melting‐crystallization phenomenon. Moreover, QIFTIR evidences that helices of different lengths contribute differently to the reversible transition: the helices composed of n = 10 and n = 12 are active into all the explored temperature range (30–130 °C) whereas the shortest (n = 6) and the longest (n > 15) helices contribute to reversibility at T > 100 °C. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 922–931     

Multiple melting behavior of isotactic polypropylene and poly(propylene-co-ethylene) after stepwise isothermal crystallization

The multiple melting behavior of several commercial resins of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and random copolymer, poly(propylene-co-ethylene) (PPE), after stepwise isothermal crystallization (SIC) were studied by differential scanning calorimeter and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). For iPP samples, three typical melting endotherms appeared after SIC process when heating rate was lower than 10 °C/min. The WAXD experiments proved that only α-form crystal was formed during SIC process and no transition from α1- to α2-form occurred during heating process. Heating rate dependence for each endotherm was discussed and it was concluded that there were only two major crystals with different thermal stability. For the PPE sample, more melting endotherms appeared after stepwise isothermal crystallization. The introduction of ethylene comonomer in isotactic propylene backbone further decreased the regularity of molecular chain, and the short isotactic propylene sequences could crystallize into γ-form crystal having a low melting temperature whereas the long sequences crystallized into α-form crystal having high melting temperature.