Study on melting and polymorphic behavior of poly(decamethylene terephthalamide)

This work describes the melting and polymorphic behavior of poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) (PA 10T). Both solution‐crystallized (SC) and melt‐crystallized (MC) PA 10T show double melting endotherms in DSC. The SC crystal form melts at 260–300°C giving the first melting endotherm, and meanwhile undergoes a polymorphic transition forming the MC crystal form. The subsequent melting of the MC crystal form gives the second melting endotherm at 300–325°C. This irreversible polymorphic transition is confirmed by variable‐temperature WAXD and IR. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) shows a glass transition temperature (T_g) at 127°C and the presence of an α′ transition at 203°C (0.1 and 1 Hz). This transition could be confirmed by DSC and variable‐temperature WAXD experiments. The α′ transition correlates with a reversible thermal process and a sudden change in intersheet spacing. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 465–472     

Multi-frequency dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis of methyl methacrylate adhesive (MMA)

The paper presents the results of Dynamic-Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) for a selected methacrylate adhesive at the frequency range from 1 to 50?Hz and the heating rate of 1 and 3?°C/min, in the range from –70?°C to 180?°C. On the basis of the test results, the glass transition temperature was evaluated for three calculation methods. Master curves were also designated for three different reference temperatures: –20, +20 and +60?°C. Master curves were calculated using shift factors a_T - calculated by numerical method.     

Poly(pentamethylcyclopentasiloxane). I. Synthesis and characterization

We have discovered that pentamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D₅H) can be readily polymerized into poly(pentmethylcyclopentasiloxane) (PD₅) with a Pt (Karstedt) catalyst in the presence of water in bulk or in solution at 100 °C and that the product is a solid with extraordinary properties. The polymerization starts with the oxidation of the SiH groups by water into an intermediate containing SiOH groups (SiH + H₂O → SiOH + H₂), which is followed immediately by the condensation (2SiO → Si? O? Si) of D₅H rings into complex aggregates of cyclosiloxane moieties. According to Raman spectroscopy, an average of three of the five SiH functionalities are converted, and the final product contains only a negligible number of SiOH groups. The melting and glass‐transition temperatures of the monomer are exceptionally low: T_m,D5H = ?137.6 ± 1 and T_g,D5H = ?152 ± 2 °C. The polymer exhibits an unprecedented combination of properties: it is a stiff and brittle solid, is insoluble in common solvents, does not exhibit a melting endotherm but has an extremely low glass transition (T_g,PD5 = ?151 ± 0.5 °C), and is thermally stable up to at least 700 °C. Brillouin scattering indicates very slow variation of the relaxation time with temperature, a property characteristic of strong glass‐forming systems such as silica glass. This characteristic may account for the unique combination of properties of the new polymer: an extremely low glass‐transition temperature combined with solidlike properties even at ambient temperature (more than twice its glass‐transition temperature). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1285–1292, 2002     

Effect of morphology on the dynamic mechanical properties of a semicrystalline polysiloxane

The dynamic mechanical properties of semicrystalline poly(tetramethyl-p-silphenylene siloxane) in three morphological preparations were measured over the wide frequency range of about 0.002 Hz to 500 Hz and the temperature range of about ? 190°C to 100°C. The three samples were all isothermally crystallized at 125°C. Two samples had a spherulite size of 25 μ diameter but differed in the time allowed for secondary crystallization. The other sample had a smaller spherulite size. By assuming compliance additivity, the viscoelastic behavior could be separated into five relaxation processes with an indication that a sixth existed at low temperature. Two processes called γ₁ and γ₂ could be resolved at low temperatures. The γ₁ process was associated with the amorphous region since the peak strength was affected by the rate of cooling through the glass transition region; the γ₂ peak, unaffected by cooling rate, is attributed to the crystalline part. In the high-temperature region, the β peak is associated with the glass transition and has a shape and location that is essentially independent of the morphology. The highest temperature α₂ process, whose maximum was not observed in the experimental range covered, is attributed to the crystalline region and is sensitive to changes in crystallization history. The strength of the α₁ process unlike that of the other processes was found to be a function of temperature; it was associated with the noncrystalline region.     

Ionic liquids from the cationic cobalt(III) Schiff base complex, [Co(acacen)L2][Tf2N] (acacen = N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediamine,Tf2N = bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide)

Ionic liquids comprising cationic cobalt(III) complexes [Co(acacen)L₂][Tf₂N] (L?=?3-butylpyridine (1), 1-butylimidazole (2); acacen?=?N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediamine, Tf₂N?=?bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) were prepared. 1 is a liquid at room temperature and exhibits a glass transition at ?12?°C, whereas 2 is a solid at room temperature with a melting point of 74.6?°C and glass transition temperature of ?15?°C upon cooling from the melt. These salts are reddish brown diamagnetic materials that are stable against air and water; these properties differ from those of the corresponding iron(III) salt. Desorption of the axial ligands of 1 and 2 occurs at 180 and 207?°C, respectively.     

The influence of annealing on thermal transitions in a nematic copolyester

Thermal transitions of a glassy, main chain, liquid crystalline, random copolyester, HIQ‐40, have been characterized. HIQ‐40 is made from 40 mol percent p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and 30 mol % each of p‐hydroquinone (HQ) and isophthalic acid (IA). This polymer is soluble in organic solvents, permitting the preparation of thin, solution‐cast films that are in a glassy, metastable, optically isotropic state. On first heating of an isotropic HIQ‐40 film in a calorimeter, one glass transition is observed at low temperature (approximately 42°C), and is ascribed to the glass/rubber transition of the isotropic polymer. A cold crystallization exotherm centered near 150°C is observed. This is associated with the development of low levels of crystalline order. A broad melting endotherm is centered at about 310°C; this endotherm marks the melting of crystallites and the transformation to a nematic fluid. A nematic to isotropic transition was not observed by calorimetry. After quenching from the nematic melt, a T_g is observed in the range of 110–115°C and is associated with the glass/rubber transition of the nematically ordered polymer. Annealing optically isotropic films at temperatures above the isotropic glass transition results in the systematic development of axial order. In these annealed samples, T_g increases rapidly until it is near the annealing temperature, then T_g increases more slowly at longer annealing times. In as‐cast films annealed at 120–135°C, the light intensity transmitted through a sample held between crossed polarizers in an optical microscope (a qualitative measure of birefringence and, in turn, axial order) initially increases rapidly and uniformly throughout the sample and, at longer annealing times, approaches asymptotic values that are higher at higher annealing temperatures. The increase in transmitted intensity is ascribed to the development of axial order. The uniform increase in transmitted intensity suggests that ordering occurs by a rather global process and not via a nucleation and growth mechanism. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 505–522, 1999     

Thermal behavior of ferroelectric Polyamide 11 in relation to pyroelectric properties

The pyroelectric properties of oriented thin films of ferroelectric Polyamide 11 have been studied in the temperature range of −100°C up to +140°C. The temperature dependence of the experimental pyroelectric coefficient has been analyzed. Three changes of slope of the pyroelectric coefficient are observed at −20, +50, and +100°C. The origin of the lower temperature event has not yet been defined. The upper transition is attributed to chain movements in crystalline regions, and more precisely, to a crystalline phase transition. The intermediate event is close to the glass transition temperature T_g observed by DSC. It is attributed to the manifestation of the glass transition. Below T_g, the variations of the pyroelectric coefficient are very small. For higher temperatures, it increases rapidly, attesting to a major contribution of secondary pyroelectricity and dimensional effects above T_g. The breaking of hydrogen bonds occurring at the glass transition temperature observed on DSC thermograms does not affect pyroelectric properties. Pyroelectric properties are mildly reduced after annealing at temperatures up to +140°C. A comparative study of oriented ferroelectric films prepared by quenching from the melt and nonoriented slowly cooled samples has been carried out by means of DSC. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 715–723, 1999     

Study of a plasticized‐unoriented P(VF2/VF3) (73/27 mol%) copolymer. I. The effects of crystallization conditions on morphology,physical, and thermal properties

The results of a study on the effects of a plasticizer, tricresyl phosphate, on the mechanical and thermal properties of unoriented films of poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene) (VF₂/VF₃) copolymer (73/27 mol%) are presented. Films were prepared by both quenching and slow‐cooling from the melt with plasticizer concentrations of 0, 5, and 10% by weight. For the slow‐cooled films, a reduction in crystallinity by 25% was observed for the heavily plasticized films, together with a reduced dynamic mechanical modulus (≈ 58%) and an increased dielectric constant (≈ 200%). For the quenched films, a small increase in crystallinity was observed together with a reduced modulus and an increased dielectric constant. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the modulus and dielectric constant at 10 Hz. were also carried out from −100°C to 100°C. This data showed that for slow‐cooled films the glass transition temperature decreased from −28°C to ‐52°C at the highest doping level. DSC thermal analysis shows a decrease in the Curie transition (≈ 4°C) and melting temperatures (≈ 9°C) for the quenched films, while the slow‐cooled films only showed a decrease in melting temperature (≈ 10°C), while the Curie transition temperature was unaffected. In addition, evidence of a two‐phase system or a nonferroelectric crystal phase is noted by the presence of two Curie transition temperature peaks. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 19–28, 1999     

Effects of thermal history,crystallinity, and solvent on the transitions and relaxations in poly(bisphenol-A carbonate)

The following system of nomenclature for the transitions and relaxations in polycarbonate has been proposed: α = T_g = 150, β = 70, γ = ?100, and δ = ?220°C (frequency range of 10–50 Hz). The three component peaks of the γ relaxation are denoted by γ₁, γ₂, and γ₃ relaxations correspond to phenylene, coupled phenylene-carbonate, and carbonate motions, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis of poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) using the DuPont 981–990 DMA system shows that the magnitude of the β relaxation depends upon the thermal history of the polycarbonate; annealing greatly reduces the intensity of the β relaxation. A relaxation map constructed for the β relaxation gives an activation energy of 46 kcal/mol. Exposure of polycarbonate to methylene chloride vapor for various times shows that after an induction period of about 5 min the intensity of the γ₃ relaxation at ?78°C decreases whereas the intensity of the γ₁ relaxation of ?30°C is unaffected and the ratio E″(γ₁)/E″(γ₃) increases linearly with the square root of time. This has been ascribed to the interaction of methylene chloride on the carbonate group in polycarbonate. Thermal crystallization of polycarbonate does not affect the positions of the γ relaxation and the glass transition peaks, but merely reduces their intensity. The glass transition peak intensity falls off sharply in comparison to the γ relaxation intensity. Both the γ₃ and γ₁ peaks in polycarbonate have been observed simultaneously for the first time by dynamic mechanical analysis. Impact strength measurements show that methylene chloride treatment of polycarbonate results in a change in mode of failure from ductile to brittle with a resultant 40-fold reduction in impact energy for fracture. Thermally crystallized polycarbonate exhibits brittle fracture with very low force and energy at break.     

Kinetic and equilibrium phenomena in the system: Acetone vapor and polycarbonate film

Amorphous films of Lexan polycarbonate have been exposed to acetone vapor at controlled temperatures and partial pressures in order to study sorption kinetics and thermodynamics and polymer crystallization behavior. Sorption isotherms show a discontinuity is slope at or near the depressed glass transition, which itself was identified by torsion pendulum measurements. Crystallization abruptly begins to occur at partial pressures equal to or slightly above that of the solubility transition and is manifested by delayed desorption and whitening phenomena. In this process 20% crystallinity is usually developed, as measured by calorimetry which, however, produces a 40% drop in acetone solubility. Although the depressed glass temperature is near 0°C. in saturated atmospheres—a drop of 145°C.—the melting point is only depressed 60 or 70°C. Such disparity probably accounts for the enhanced polycarbonate crystallization rate in acetone over that in the dry bulk polymer above the normal T_g.     

Creep behavior of amorphous ethylene–styrene interpolymers in the glass transition region

The viscoelastic behavior of amorphous ethylene–styrene interpolymers (ESIs) was studied in the glass transition region. The creep behavior at temperatures from 15°C below the glass transition temperature (T_g) to T_g was determined for three amorphous ESIs. These three copolymers with 62, 69, and 72 wt % styrene had glass transition temperatures of 11, 23, and 33°C, respectively, as determined by DMTA at 1 Hz. Time–temperature superposition master curves were constructed from creep curves for each polymer. The temperature dependence of the shift factors was well described by the WLF equation. Using the T_g determined by DMTA at 1 Hz as a reference temperature, C₁ and C₂ constants for the Williams, Landel, and Ferry (WLF) equation were calculated as approximately 7 and 40 K, respectively. The master curves were used to obtain the retardation time spectrum and the plateau compliance. The entanglement molecular weight obtained from the plateau compliance increased with increasing styrene content as 1,600, 1,870, and 2,040, respectively. The entanglement molecular weight of the ESIs was much closer to that of polyethylene (1,390) than to that of polystyrene (18,700); this was attributed to the unique chain microstructure of these ESIs with no styrene–styrene dyads. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2373–2382, 1999     

Influence of the crystalline phase on the molecular mobility of PVDF

Dielectric relaxation and pyrocurrent of PVDF were studied by thermostimulated current spectroscopy. The transition spectrum of the material was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Two well-resolved relaxation peaks have been observed in the temperature range [?100–100°C]. The molecular mechanisms of these phenomena have been discussed, based on a comparative study of α-PVDF. and β-PVDF. The β relaxation mode is located at ?41°C in α-PVDF and is slightly shifted toward higher temperatures in the stretched material. This mode has been ascribed to the dielectric manifestation of the glass transition (T_g) of PVDF. It is comprised of two components corresponding to the free and constrained amorphous phases, respectively, in the order of increasing temperatures. The α_c transition/relaxation has been associated with molecular motions in the crystalline/amorphous interphase. At higher temperatures, a compensation phenomenon corresponding to cooperative movements liberated at the Curie transition has been observed in β-PVDF. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cooperative motions in PVC studied by thermally stimulated currents: Comparison with A.C. dielectric derivative analysis

The thermally stimulated current–thermal sampling (TSC–TS) technique was used to study the broadened glass transition in conventional “atactic” poly(vinyl chloride), PVC. The activated parameters obtained from the TSC–TS data, mainly the apparent activation energy (E_a), characterize the breadth of glass transitions in a very sensitive way. These results are compared with those values of E_a obtained from the literature, using a recently proposed method of analyzing a.c. dielectric constants and their derivatives, over the temperature range of −100–130°C. Both techniques detect weak cooperative glass transition-like relaxations well below the main glass transition of ca. 80°C. As is the case with “atactic” PMMA, the data suggest that compositional heterogeneity related to a small fraction of predominantly isotactic sequences contribute to the broad glass transition extending ca. 60°C below the main glass transition in atactic PVC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 913–918, 1998     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of novel Y‐type polyester containing tricyanovinylthiazolylazoresorcinoxy group with enhanced thermal stability of dipole alignment

Novel Y‐type polyester 4 containing 5‐methyl‐4‐{5‐(1,2,2‐tricyanovinyl)‐2‐thiazolylazo}resorcinoxy groups as nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores, which are parts of the polymer backbone, was prepared, and its NLO properties were investigated. Polyester 4 is soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. Polymer 4 shows a thermal stability up to 250 °C from thermogravimetric analysis with glass‐transition temperature obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of approximately 94 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient (d₃₃) of poled polymer film at 1560‐nm fundamental wavelength is 8.12 × 10^?9 esu. The dipole alignment exhibits a thermal stability even at 6 °C higher than glass‐transition temperature (T_g), and no significant SHG decay is observed below 100 °C due to the partial main‐chain character of polymer structure, which is acceptable for NLO device applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Influence of γ-irradiation on the transition temperatures of crystalline polytetrafluorethylene

The influence of γ-irradiation on the melting and two solid-solid transitions, occurring near 19° and 30°C, of polytetrafluorethylene was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A continuous depression of all three transition temperatures, with increasing dose was observed in a first scan of highly crystalline samples at a heating rate of 20°C/min. Additional information was obtained about the accompanying heats of transition. Values for the number of CF₂ units excluded from the crystal lattice per 100 eV energy deposition were calculated by using an equation for the depression of the melting point by chemical impurities. The value obtained of G(–units) = 3.3 ± 0.3 is in agreement with a value of G(chemically damaged units) = 3.0 ± 0.1 previously reported on the basis of scavenging techniques. It is concluded that chemical radiation-induced damage in this polymer may be estimated by reference to changes in the melting temperature. A value of G(–units) = 1.6 ± 0.2 was obtained by reference to the 19°C transition.     

Orientation of uniaxially stretched poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6‐dicarboxylate) films by polarized infrared spectroscopy

Poly(ethylene naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate) has been uniaxially stretched at different draw ratios and at two different temperatures below and above its glass transition (T_g ～ 120 °C) respectively, at 100 and 160 °C. Crystallinity has been evaluated from calorimetric analyses and compared to the values deduced by FTIR spectroscopic data. As expected, the obtained results are quite similar and show that films stretched at lower temperature (100 °C) are more crystalline than those stretched at 160 °C. Optical anisotropy associated with orientation has been evaluated by birefringence and show that films stretched at 100 °C are more birefringent than those stretched at 160 °C as a result of a higher chain relaxation above T_g. Polarized FTIR was also performed to evaluate the individual orientation of amorphous and crystalline phases by calculating dichroic ratios R and orientation functions 〈P₂(cos θ)〉 and also show that amorphous and crystalline phases are more oriented in the case of films stretched below T_g. Nevertheless, the orientation of the amorphous phase is always weaker than that of the crystalline phase. Films stretched at 100 °C show a rapid increase in orientation (and crystallinity) with draw ratio and 〈P₂(cos θ)〉 reaches a limit value when draw ratio becomes higher than 3.5. Films drawn at 160 °C are less oriented and their orientation is increasing progressively with draw ratio without showing a plateau. A careful measurement of the IR absorbance was necessary to evaluate the structural angles of the transition moments to the molecular chain axis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1950–1958, 2007     

Slow molecular mobility in the amorphous thermoplastic polysulfone

The thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique has been used to study the slow molecular mobility of polysulfone in the glassy state and in the glass transformation region, i.e., in the temperature ranging from ?155 to 183 °C. Since the polysulfone is a rigid polymer without polar side-groups, a broad and low-intensity secondary relaxation was detected in the temperature region from ?120 °C up to the glass transition; the activation energy of the motional modes of this secondary relaxation is in the range between 35 and 100 kJ mol^?1. The glass transition temperature of polysulfone provided by the TSDC technique is T _M = T _g = 176 °C (at 4 °C min^?1). The relaxation time at this temperature is τ(T _g) = 33 s and the fragility index was found to be m = 91. Our results are compared with literature values obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis and by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The amorphous polysulfone was also characterized by DSC; a glass transition signal with an onset at T _on = 185.5 ± 0.3 °C (heating rate 10 °C min^?1) was detected, with ΔC _p = 0.21 ± 0.01 J g^?1 °C^?1.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic polyesters and polyamides from sebacyl bisketene

Sebacyl bisketene was generated in solution at ?78°C. Copolymerization in solution at 0°C with the secondary diamines, piperazine and N,N′dimethyl-1,6-hexamethylenediamine, yielded the polyamides poly(1,4-piperazylsebacyl) and poly[(methylimino)hexamethylene(methylimino)sebacyl], respectively. The polyamides were obtained in yields of 50–90%. The former had a glass transition temperature (T_g) at 30°C and a melting temperature at 165°C, whereas the latter had only a T_g at ?15°C. The polymers were insoluble in the usual polyamide solvents. Copolymerization with the diol bisphenol A yielded poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneisopropylidene-1,4-phenyleneoxysebacyl). The polyester was obtained in yields up to 99%. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) determinations showed molecular weights up to 50,000 when acetone was the reaction solvent but only 12,000 when tetrahydrofuran (THF) was the reaction solvent; the T_g for the polyester varied with the molecular weight with a maximum at 15°C. Tensile properties were obtained for the polyesters with molecular weights greater than 35,000.     

Thermal transition of a wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyester

A copolyester was prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), 2,6-naphthalene dicaboxylic acid (NDA), and hydroquinone (HQ). Thermal transition behavior and the crystal structure of this copolyester were investigated by using polarized light microscopy (PLM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) after annealing at solid-phase polymerization conditions. A glass transition or newly ordered structure in the 270–290°C range was observed on annealing at 260°C, which increased with annealing time, attributed to mobility and reactive rearrangement in amorphous regions. Broad and unclear WAXD profiles and multimelting behaviors were found on annealing at 280°C, and explained by hexagonal and orthorhombic lattice formation and transformation. A large increase in melting temperature was observed only on annealing at a temperature (320°C) near the crystal–nematic transition, suggesting annealing temperatures near the melting point are required for sufficient mobility to afford crystalline rearrangement via transesterification. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3763–3769, 1999     

Configurational assignment in alkyl‐branched sugars via the geminal C,H coupling constants

The measurement of the magnitude and sign of ²J(C,H) couplings offers a reliable way to determine the absolute configuration at a carbon center in a fixed cyclic system. A decrease of the dihedral angle ? in the O—C_A—C_B—H fragment always leads to a change of the ²J(C_A,H_B) coupling to more negative values, independent of the type and position of substituents at the two carbon centers. The orientations of the two substituents at C‐3 of the epimeric pair 1 and 2 were determined unambiguously through the measurement of the geminal coupling constants between C‐3 and the hydrogen atoms at C‐2 and C‐4. In particular, ²J(C‐3,H‐2ax) with ?1.5 Hz, ? = 174° in 1 and ?6.6 Hz, ? = 47° in 2 , and ²J(C‐3,H‐4) with +1.5 Hz, ? = 175° in 1 and ?4.7 Hz, ? = 49° in 2 showed the greatest differences between the two epimers. Both couplings therefore allow the determination of the absolute configuration at C‐3. It should be noted, however, that the size of the coupling constants can be different for dihedral angles of nearly identical size, when there are different numbers of electronegative substituents on the two coupling pathways, i.e. no O‐substituent at C‐2, but one axial O‐substituent at C‐4. It becomes clear that it is not sufficient to measure the magnitude of ²J coupling constants only, but that the sign of the geminal coupling is needed to identify the absolute configuration at a chiral center. The coupling of C‐3 with H‐2eq is not useful for the determination of the configuration at C‐3, as the similarity of the dihedral angles ? (O—C‐3—C‐2—H‐2eq) (57° in 1 and 70° in 2 ) leads to identical coupling constants (?6.1 Hz) for both epimers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.