Development of the crystallinity and rigid amorphous fraction in cold‐crystallized isotactic polystyrene

The phase structure of crystalline isotactic polystyrene (iPS) has been investigated with temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Quenched amorphous samples have been cold‐crystallized at 140 or 170 °C for various crystallization times. The degree of crystallinity obtained from WAXS, with the ratio of the crystal peak intensity to the total peak intensity, shows excellent agreement with the crystallinity determined from TMDSC total heat flow endotherms. For the first time, FTIR results show that the absorbance peak ratio (I/I) has a linear correlation with the crystalline mass fraction (χ_c) for cold‐crystallized iPS according to the following relation: I/I = 0.54χ_c + 0.16. This relationship allows the crystallinity of iPS to be determined from infrared spectroscopy analyses in cases in which it is difficult to perform thermal or X‐ray measurements. On the basis of the measurements of the heat capacity increment at the glass transition, we find that a significant amount of the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) coexists with the crystalline and mobile amorphous phases in cold‐crystallized iPS. The RAF increases systematically with the crystallization time, and a greater amount is formed at a lower crystallization temperature. A three‐phase model (crystalline phase, mobile amorphous phase, and rigid amorphous phase) is, therefore, appropriate for the interpretation of the structure of cold‐crystallized iPS. The origin of the low‐temperature endothermic peak (annealing peak) has been investigated with TMDSC and FTIR spectroscopy and has been shown to be due to irreversible relaxation of the RAF. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3026–3036, 2003     

Spherulitic morphology in polyethylene and isotactic polystyrene: Influence of diffusion of segregated species

Morphological consequences of a localized diffusion of segregated species at crystal growth fronts have been studied in two specific contexts: (1) variation of texture in spherulites grown in unfractionated polyethylene over a range of crystallization temperatures mostly in regime II, and (2) development of elongated lamellar habits in spherulites of a polymer (isotactic polystyrene) whose native crystal habit is regularly polygonal. In relation to (1) it is shown that, as crystallization temperature is varied, there is a correlation between mean thickness of stacks of lamellae and an averaged diffusion range of segregated molecules of lower molecular weight. It is noted that lamellar organization appears to be significantly different in polyethylene fractions. In relation to (2) it is shown that principal contributors to the evolution of spherulitic texture from hedritic precursors are fragmentation of lamellae by screw dislocations and radially biased growth under the influence of concentration gradients of segregated species.     

Solution grown isotactic polystyrene crystals. I. Degree and distribution of crystallinity; thermal stability

The subject of this paper is the degree of crystallinity and annealing behavior of solution grown single crystals of isotactic polystyrene (IPS) in relation to the fold length, an enquiry which acquires special significance in view of the fact that previously the fold length had been found to be identical over a wide range of crystallization temperatures (T_c). It was found that both crystallinity and thermal stability increase with T_c even over the range of constant fold length thus invalidating the usual assumption that the fold length and crystal properties are uniquely correlated. Further, the crystallinity figures as measured by conventional calorimetry are very low (<50% throughout) which by conventional ideas would require an unrealistically thick amorphous surface layer. However, the “linear crystallinity” (crystal core thickness as determined from x-ray linewidths) is much larger, commensurate with crystallinities in single crystals from other materials. It is suggested that this is the more relevant figure for the subdivision of the lamellas into crystal core and surface layer. The additional amorphous content being otherwise accommodated. Further, this “linear crystallinity” is broadly unaffected by fold length changes induced by heat annealing. The thermal stability (including annealing ability) of the crystals differs markedly whether T_c is above or below ～60°C, a T_c value which is in the range where the fold length is constant, but corresponds to a maximum in the crystallization rate. Possible connections between crystallization conditions and the stability of the resulting crystals (fold length considerations apart) are pointed out.     

Influence of crystallization and annealing conditions on the morphology of bulk-crystallized isotactic polystyrene

The influence of thermal history on the morphology of bulk-crystallized isotactic polystyrene was investigated. Results from x-ray diffraction (both wide- and small-angle), DSC experiments, and electron microscope observations, were combined to define the influence of thermal history on the fold surface free energy σ_e. lamellar thickness, and crystallite perfection. The increase of the melting point with crystallization temperature is not only the consequence of an increase in lamellar thickness, but also of marked decrease of σ_e. Annealing above the crystallization temperature results in a fast reorganization to a more stable structure, as reflected in an increase in melting point. This reorganization, depending on the crystallization temperature, involves an increase in lamellar thickness, a decrease of σ_e, and eventually an increase in crystallite perfection.     

Rigidity of polycarbonate in the presence of sulfur dioxide

A torsional pendulum method was used to study the transient effects of sulfur dioxide at pressures up to 700 torr on the rigidity of Bisphenol-A polycarbonate at 25°C. Incremental increases in pressure led to a decrease and then to an increase in rigidity. Removal of sulfur dioxide at the rigidity minimum led to a rapid recovery in rigidity, but after apparent equilibrium had been reached the rigidity was not fully reversible. These observations provide evidence that sorption of sulfur dioxide results in structural reorganization of the polymer. A qualitative discussion of the data is presented.     

Catalytic degradation of polystyrene in the presence of active charcoal

To obtain useful products from polystyrene degradation waste, the catalytic degradation of polystyrene over an active charcoal catalyst was carried out. By controlling the reaction conditions, the selective recovery of styrene dimer derivatives, a promising sourse of useful industrial additives, was investigated. Cis- and trans-l,3-diphenyl-2-butene. 1,3-diphenyl-1-butene and 1,3-diphenylbutane were detected as the main products. The yield of styrene dimer derivatives was about 15 wt.% of the total liquid products recovered. Also. selective recovery of the styrene dimer derivatives by the catalytic reaction of polystyrene in the presence of a catalyst was possible by controlling the contact time and activity of the catalyst.     

On the predictability of the high-frequency elastic modulus of semicrystalline polymers as function of crystallinity

The relation of the high-frequency elastic moduli of semicrystalline polymers to volume fraction crystallinity is correctly described by the Hashin-Shtrikman theory, without any disposable constants, as a function of the ratio of the modulus of the amorphous to that of the crystalline phase. Hence the (high-frequency) reduced modulus of semicrystalline polymers is largely a function of the temperature T/T_g. The importance of T/T_m for the modulus of the crystalline phase precludes the existence of a single universal reduced modulus versus temperature curve.     

Photolysis of sulfur dioxide in the presence of foreign gases: VII. Acetylene

SO₂ was photolyzed at 25°C and 3130 Å in the presence of acetylene. The quantum yield of the sole gas-phase product, CO, was determined for a wide range of SO₂ and C₂H₂ pressures, and in the presence of CO₂, NO and H₂O. The quantum yield, Φ{CO}, increases with the ratio [C₂H₂] [SO₂] to an upper limiting value of 0.052. In the presence of excess CO₂ or H₂O vapor, Φ{CO}becomes independent of [SO₂] and is reduced at low values of [C₂H₂] but remains unchanged or increases slightly at high values of [C₂H₂]. As NO is added at the higher C₂H₂ pressures it first increases Φ{CO} but then reduces it to zero. None of the CO comes from singlet states as shown by the strong quenching of CO production by NO. Both of the two non-emitting triplet states previously proposed to be important in the photochemistry of SO₂, as well as the emitting triplet, are necessary to interpret the results of this study. A relatively complete mechanism is presented, all the pertinent rate coefficient ratios are obtained, and from these, values of Φ{CO} are computed. They agree well with the observed values.     

Surface chemistry of polymers. The adsorption of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide on polyvinylidene chloride

Isotherms for the adsorption of nitrogen (77 K), carbon dioxide (195–247 K) and sulfur dioxide (254–293 K) on polyvinylidene chloride have been measured volumetrically. The B.E.T. cross-sectional areas of 18 Ų (CO₂) and 24 Ų (SO₂) are comparable to liquid density values. The isosteric heat of adsorption of CO₂ is constant for 0.2 < θ < 0.4 and is lower than the latent heat of condensation. For SO₂, the two are practically identical up to the monolayer. Entropy calculations show ‘supermobility’ in the case of CO₂.     

Dilatometric studies of isotactic polypropylene with different morphology before and after thermal degradation in air

Summary Glass transition phenomenon in isotactic polypropylene has been studied in this paper basicly on dilatometric studies. New suggestions are made for explaining the occurrence of twoT _g values with their characteristic dependence on the degree of crystallinity of the samples having a different morphological structure. The effects produced by thermooxidation are discussed. T _g calledT _g1 is considered as the true glass transition temperature in the amorphous phase of IPP whereasTg2 is melting of a smectic phase in IPP,T _g2 >T _g1.Author thanks Prof. M. Kryszewski for useful discussion.     

Thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of polystyrene in the presence of bromine-containing flame retardants

The kinetic of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of polystyrene in the presence of bromine-containing flame retardants was investigated. It was shown that the kinetics is limited by diffusion in air and by the processes occurring at the interface in helium.The flame retardants affect the degradation of polystyrene both chemically and physically, and change the mechanism of the limiting stage to some extent.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik des thermischen und thermo-oxidativen Abbaus von Polystyren in Gegenwart bromhaltiger Flammschutzmittel wurde untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Reaktion durch die Diffusion in Luft bzw. durch die Grenzflächenvorgänge in Helium begrenzt wird.Die Flammschutzmittel beeinflussen den Abbau von Polystyren sowohl chemisch als auch physikalisch und verändern im gewissen Masse auch den Mechanismus des geschwindigkeitsbestimmenden Schritts.

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Luminescence studies in polymers—IV. Effect of orientation,tacticity and crystallinity on polystyrene and polyvinylcarbazole fluorescence

The fluorescence spectra of amorphous atactic, amorphous isotactic and crystallized isotactic polystyrene films have been compared. The effect of chain orientation has also been analysed on amorphous atactic samples. The results show that the fluorescence yield increases with crystallinity at room temperature and 77°K. The contribution of excimer fluorescence at 77°K increases according to the sequence: atactic < atactic oriented < isotactic amorphous < isotactic crystallized. An increase of the fluorescence yield with crystallinity was also observed for polyvinylcarbazole samples although the contribution of excimer fluorescence at 77°K is independent of crystallinity for this polymer. The results are interpreted in terms of energy migration.     

Mechanistical studies on the electron-induced degradation of polymers: polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polystyrene

Mechanisms of the electron-induced degradation of three polymers utilized in aerospace applications (polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polystyrene (PS)) were examined over a temperature range of 10 K to 300 K at ultra high vacuum conditions (～10(-11) Torr). These processes simulate the interaction of secondary electrons generated in the track of galactic cosmic ray particles in the near-Earth space environment with polymer material. The chemical alterations at the macromolecular level were monitored on-line and in situ by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These data yielded important information on the temperature dependent kinetics on the formation of, for instance, trans-vinylene groups (-CH=CH-) in PE, benzene (C(6)H(6)) production in PS, fluorinated trans-vinylene (-CF=CF-) and terminal vinyl (-CF=CF(2)) groups in PTFE together with molecular hydrogen release in PE and PS. Additional data on the radiation-induced development of unsaturated, conjugated bonds were collected via UV-vis spectroscopy. Temperature dependent G-values for trans-vinylene formation (G(-CH=CH-) ≈ 25-2.5 × 10(-4) units (100 eV)(-1) from 10-300 K) and molecular hydrogen evolution (G(H(2)) ≈ 8-80 × 10(-5) molecules (100 eV)(-1) from 10-300 K) for irradiated PE were calculated to quantify the degree of polymer degradation following electron irradiation. These values are typically two to three orders of magnitude less than G-values previously published for the irradiation of polymers with energetic particles of higher mass.     

Retardation of spherulitic growth rate in the crystallization of isotactic polystyrene due to the presence of nucleant

Although the rate of heterogeneous nucleation of crystallization in isotactic polystyrene, as studied by photomicroscopy, is markedly increased by addition of fine-particle silica, the rate of subsequent radial growth of spherulites formed is diminished. The latter observation is rationalized on the basis of a modified Hoffman–Lauritzen treatment wherein the nucleant is depicted as a quasicrosslink which impedes the transport of polymer segments.     

Thermal degradation of polystyrene in the presence of hydrogen by catalyst in solution

For the first time, low temperature degradation (170-240 °C) of polystyrene in benzene is carried out in the presence of hydrogen using iron(III) oxide catalyst. The effect of temperature, catalyst loading and polymer loading on degradation are studied in hydrogen atmosphere. Degradation is also carried out at different initial hydrogen partial pressure. The time dependent molecular weight is calculated using viscosity average method. It is found that the degradation is enhanced considerably in the presence of hydrogen and followed random degradation chain scission. A random degradation kinetic model of Kelen [Kelen T. Polymer degradation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company; 1983.] is used to estimate the degradation rate constants. Empirical correlations are proposed to account for the effect of catalyst loading and initial hydrogen partial pressure on degradation. The true thermal degradation rate constants are calculated using these proposed correlations at given catalyst loading and initial hydrogen partial pressure with varying temperature. The frequency factor and activation energy are also determined using Arrhenius equation considering the true thermal degradation rate constants.     

Influence of single-walled carbon nanotubes induced crystallinity enhancement and morphology change on polymer photovoltaic devices

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were determined to have significant interaction with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which is helpful to form continuous active film with interpenetrating structure and improve the crystallinity of the resultant film for SWNTs/P3HT composite. Photovoltaic devices based on an active film with relatively higher crystallinity display much enhanced performance. The work function of carbon nanotubes modulated by electron transferring from P3HT to SWNTs is proposed to explain the high open-circuit voltage (V(OC)) obtained from the photovoltaic devices based on the SWNTs/P3HT system.