Morphological varieties and kinetic behaviors of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) spherulites crystallized isothermally from thin melt film

The spherulitic morphologies of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) crystallized isothermally from thin melt film with different crystallization temperatures were observed by means of polarized optical microscopy, optical microscopy, SEM, and atomic force microscopy techniques, and the kinetic behaviors were analyzed carefully in this work. It was found that the nonbanded spherulites could be observed at lower and higher crystallization temperatures, and the banded spherulites were formed usually at an intermediate range within experimental crystallization temperatures. The competition of the crystallization rate (v _c) and the diffusion rate (v _d) of melt molecules was employed to explain the transition of the spherulitic morphologies. It was considered that the change of the ratio of v _d and v _c would result in the transition of the spherulitic morphologies. The formation and development of the banded structure were discussed in detail. It was found that the band spacing was proportional to diffusion length of melt molecules and increased with increasing of crystallization temperature. The kinetic behaviors of PHB spherulites formed from the thin melt film with different crystallization temperatures were also discussed in this work.     

Unusual Spherulitic Morphology of Poly(propylene fumarate)

Spherulites are the most common crystalline morphology and thus the visual expression of crystal structures for polymers. The diversified patterns have provided intuitive morphology probes for various crystallization behaviors, while the correlations between them are still needed to be enriched. In this work, the complicated spherulitic morphology of poly(propylene fumarate)(PPF), which is sensitive to crystallization temperature, is investigated. PPF melt, respectively, crystallizes into rough spherulites, regularly banded spherulites, and spherulites containing both two kinds of morphology at low, high, and mediate temperatures. By systematically assaying, it is clear that the growth axis along the radial direction changes from a-axis to b-axis as the crystallization temperature increases, which leads to the formation of unique crystallization-temperature-dependent spherulites. Based on detailed characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the packing state of the specific hydrogen bonds of "C=C―H···O=C―C=C" in PPF crystal lattices is determined, and furthermore, the mechanism for temperature-dependent selection of growth axes for PPF spherulites in melt is reasonably speculated.     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. I. Spherulitic morphology and growth by polarized microscopy

The development of the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) morphology in the presence of already existent poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) spherulites was studied by two‐stage solidification with two separate crystallization temperatures. PVDF formed irregular dendrites at lower temperatures and regular, banded spherulites at elevated temperatures. The transition temperature of the spherulitic morphology from dendrites to regular, banded spherulites increased with increasing PVDF content. A remarkable amount of PHB was included in the PVDF dendrites, whereas PHB was rejected into the remaining melt from the banded spherulites. When PVDF crystallized as banded spherulites, PHB could consequently crystallize only around them, if at all. In contrast, PHB crystallized with a common growth front, starting from a defined site in the interfibrillar regions of volume‐filling PVDF dendrites. It formed by itself dendritic spherulites that included a large number of PVDF spherulites. For blends with a PHB content of more than 80 wt %, for which the PVDF dendrites were not volume‐filling, PHB first formed regular spherulites. Their growth started from outside the PVDF dendrites but could later interpenetrate them, and this made their own morphology dendritic. These PHB spherulites melted stepwise because the lamellae inside the PVDF dendrites melted at a lower temperature than those from outside. This reflected the regularity of the two fractions of the lamellae because that of those inside the dendrites of PVDF was controlled by the intraspherulitic order of PVDF, whereas that from outside was only controlled by the temperature and the melt composition. The described morphologies developed without mutual nucleating efficiency of the components. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 873–882, 2003     

Effect of poly(butylene succinate) crystals on spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) in binary blends of the two substances

The effects of the lamellar growth direction, extinction rings, and spherulitic boundaries of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) on the spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were investigated in miscible blends of the two crystalline polymers. In the crystallization process from a homogeneous melt, PBSU first developed volume‐filling spherulites, and then PEO spherulites nucleated and grew inside the PBSU spherulites. The lamellar growth direction of PEO was identical with that of PBSU even when the PBSU content was about 5 wt %. PEO, which intrinsically does not exhibit banded spherulites, showed apparent extinction rings inside the banded spherulites of PBSU. The growth rate of a PEO spherulite, G_PEO, was influenced not only by the blend composition and the crystallization temperature of PEO, but also by the growth direction with respect to PBSU lamellae, the boundaries of PBSU spherulites, and the crystallization temperature of PBSU, T_PBSU. The value of G_PEO first increased with decreasing T_PBSU when a PEO spherulite grew inside a single PBSU spherulite. Then, G_PEO decreased when T_PBSU was further decreased and a PEO spherulite grew through many tiny PBSU spherulites. This behavior was discussed based on the aforementioned factors affecting G_PEO. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 539–547, 2009     

Rhythmic growth of ring‐banded spherulites in blends of liquid crystalline methoxy‐poly(aryl ether ketone) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone)

Rhythmic growth of ring‐banded spherulites in blends of liquid crystalline methoxy‐poly(aryl ether ketone) (M‐PAEK) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK) has been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The measurements reveal that the formation of the rhythmically grown ring‐banded spherulites in the M‐PAEK/PEEK blends is strongly dependent on the blend composition. In the M‐PAEK‐rich blends, upon cooling, an unusual ring‐banded spherulite is formed, which is ascribed to structural discontinuity caused by a rhythmic radial growth. For the 50:50 M‐PAEK/PEEK blend, ring‐banded spherulites and individual PEEK spherulites coexist in the system. In the blends with PEEK as the predominant component, M‐PAEK is rejected into the boundary of PEEK spherulites. The cooling rate and crystallization temperature have great effect on the phase behavior, especially the ring‐banded spherulite formation in the blends. In addition, the effects of M‐PAEK phase transition rate and phase separation rate on banded spherulite formation is discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3011–3024, 2007     

Influence of microcrystalline cellulose fiber (MCCF) on the morphology of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)

Biopolymer composites were prepared from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/microcrystalline cellulose fiber (MCCF)/plastiziers/poly(vinyl acetate) by melt extrusion. The morphology, crystal structure, and non-isothermal crystallization of these composites were investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The results of DSC indicate that the addition of small amount of MCCF improved the crystallization rate. Non-isothermal crystallization shows that the composites 1 and 2 have lower crystallization half time (t _{0 .5}) than that of pure PHB. Higher MCCF contents in PHB (composite 4) lead to a decrease in the crystallization rate. POM micrographs show that the MCCF were well dispersed in the PHB matrix and served as a nucleating agent with a strong change in PHB morphology. Increasing the isothermal crystallization temperature above 120 °C, leads to the formation of banded spherulites with large regular band spacing. Decreasing the isothermal crystallization temperature below 100 °C produces more and small spherulites.     

聚乙二醇-聚L-丙交酯嵌段共聚物结晶形貌研究

用偏光显微镜和原子力显微镜对比研究了PEG-PLLA嵌段共聚物在110℃或120℃等温结晶后的结晶形貌.发现在110℃时只有PEG5000-PLLA2300和PEG5000-PLLA6300在偏光显微镜下呈现环带球晶形貌,在原子力显微镜高度图中显示明显的环带,并具有交替凸凹起伏形貌.而PEG5000-PLLA12000球晶中没有出现环带形貌而是生成了规则的环线.在120℃时,PEG5000-PLLA12000的球晶中才生成了规则的环带图案,原子力显微镜也显示了其球晶具有明显的交替凸凹起伏形貌,说明过冷度直接影响环带球晶的生成.产生周期性凸凹起伏和明暗交替消光是由片晶沿着球晶的半径方向周期性扭转造成的,片晶在凸起部分是Edge-on取向,在凹下部分是Flat-on取向.     

The use of atomic force microscopy for imaging the surfaces of polyamide, 6

The surface morphologies of PA 6 resulting from the use of various processing methods were studied by tapping mode atomic force microscopy. Three PA 6 samples: (1) a thin film, spin coated on a silicon wafer, (2) a freestanding film, i.e. a foil and (3) a monofilament, show definite morphological differences revealing typical supramolecular structures. The thin film having thickness of app. 35 nm is a good example of the initial step of spherulite formation where the sheaf development is still prominent. In an area of 100 μm² 1-4 spherulites can be detected which are typical of crystallization from the solution. The annealing (vacuum, 195°C, 3.5h) causes additional crystallization, which leads to a radial coordination and enlargement of spherulites to app. 50% in diameter and up to 40% in height. The morphology of foil (thickness of 100 μm) can be interpreted as a system of spherulites formed from the melt, and a typical fibrillar structure is observed on the surface of monofilament.     

Synthesis,morphology, and nonisothermal crystallization behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(propylene glycol) segmented random copolymers

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(propylene glycol) (PTT/PPG) segmented random copolymers were synthesized by melt copolycondensation. The weight fraction of PPG blocks was ranged from 12.1 to 33.4 wt%, which was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The result of wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometer indicated that all copolymers had the same crystal structure of PTT homopolymer at room temperature. At a determined crystallization temperature, ring‐banded spherulites could be observed in all copolymers samples, and the band spacing increased with the increase of PPG content. Morphologies of copolymers after nonisothermal crystallization process were strongly depended on the cooling rate. Well‐defined ring‐banded spherulites can be observed only at moderate cooling (20°C/min), while it was really hard to be observed at too low (2.5°C/min) or too high (by air‐quenching) cooling rate. Moreover, the size of spherulites decreased with the increase of cooling rate. Finally, different nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were adopt to analyze this copolymer system, and only the Mo method was suitable to describe this copolymer system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphology and interference color in spherulite of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) copolyester with bulky linking pendent group

A novel phosphorus-containing copolyester (PTTP), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) copolyester with a bulky linking pendent group of 9,10-dihydro-10-[2,3-di(hydroxycarbonyl) propyl]-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DDP) was prepared, and its crystallization, crystal morphology and interference color were investigated in this article for the first time. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results showed that with the increase of DDP content, the melting point (T(m)) and crystallization ability of PTTP decreased. WAXD results suggests that the three samples share one crystal structure, however the crystallinity decreases with increasing DDP content. Polarized optical microscope (POM) observation indicated that the samples showed non-banded spherulites at a lower and higher temperature, and banded spherulites at the middle temperature range. From the micrographs obtained from scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), ringed patterns with many defects could be found for samples with higher DDP contents, which crystallized at a lower temperature, and a transformation from square-shaped spherulites to circular spherulites was noted for samples with higher DDP contents, which crystallized at a higher temperature. The interference color of the spherulites was also studied and it was shown that with the increase of film thickness or decrease of DDP content, the spherulites became more colorful under POM observation, indicating that the hindering effect and randomness caused by incorporating the DDP monomer with a bulky pendent group into the PTT molecular chain exhibited a negative influence on the molecular mobility and crystallization ability of the copolyester, and led to the formation of the defective band morphology and the less colorful interference color of the PTTP spherulites.     

Nonisothermal crystallization behavior, and morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene glycol copolymers

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene glycol (PTT/PEG) copolymers, with PEG content ranging from 27.2 to 47.4 wt%, were synthesized by melt copolycondensation. Wide-Angle X-ray diffractometer revealed that all copolymers had the same crystal structure of homo-PTT at room temperature. All copolymers could form ring-banded spherulites, and band spacing increased with increasing PEG content at a given crystallization temperature. Nonisothermal crystallization morphology of copolymers was greatly influenced by cooling rate. When the cooling rate was 2.5 °C/min or lower, banded patterns were absent, whereas when the cooling rate was 20 °C/min or higher, a novel crystal morphology composed of non-banded spherulites (central part) and ring-banded spherulites with decreasing band spacing along the radial growth direction was observed. Moreover, the size of the non-banded spherulitic part decreased with increasing cooling rate. Finally, the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of copolymers were analyzed and only the Mo method was satisfactory to accurately describe this system.     

Concentric-ringed structures in polymer thin films

Novel polymer crystalline structures containing micrometer-sized concentric rings (or bands) were observed in thin poly(bisphenol A hexane ether) (BA-C6) films. The origin of the banded structures was found to be different from that of traditional banded spherulites in polymer systems. Analyses based on optical microscopy (OM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the banded structures contained alternating ridge and valley bands of polymer crystals in the flat-on orientation. No lamellar twisting was observed within the concentric-ringed structures, which were developed as a result of the formation of a depletion zone during crystallization. The formation of a depletion zone was determined to be caused by the specific volume decrement between the crystal and the melt and by the diffusion of polymer chains to the fold surfaces of the flat-on lamellae. The height of the ridges and the interband widths could be adjusted by controlling the diffusion rate. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry ion images showed higher concentrations of low-molecular-weight polymer chains on the surfaces of the ridges than in the valleys.     

Detailed analysis of temperature dependences of spherulite morphology and crystallite orientation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) via a combinatorial method

Temperature dependences of spherulite morphology and crystal orientation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were systematically investigated via a combinatorial method. The method created a temperature gradient ranging from 130 to 200 °C. Results show that the preferential orientation of the crystallites changes with the crystallization temperature. The crystallization at 169 °C gives the most highly developed crystalline state of PVDF crystalline form II (α form), in which the spherulite size is maximal, and the crystallite sizes are also the longest, about 200 nm along the b axes. Besides, the a‐axis is almost parallel to the film normal. It indicates that the crystallization rate is the highest in the b‐axis direction. The perferential orientation at higher temperatures may be attributed to the confined 2D growth of the PVDF spherulites in the thin film, whereas the spherulites grow in the 3D mode at lower temperatures. The crystallization behavior revealed in the method is consistent with the results of melt isothermal crystallization experiments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 253–261     

Crystallization and morphology of melt-solidified poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) from the melt yields two types of spherulites. The first consists of large, highly birefringent, and tightly banded spherulites of the α-form, which are seen at all temperatures. The second type, termed mixed, crystallizes with a newly reported unit cell which appears to be the correct one for γ-PVF₂, but may contain inclusions of a different form (probably α-PVF₂); it is seen only at relatively high temperatures and frequently exhibits irregular or disorganized birefringent and morphological features. In thin films, some mixed spherulites contain regions of single-crystal-like aggregates which are grown parallel to the substrate and appear essentially nonbirefringent between crossed polars. Mixed spherulites frequently undergo transformations at their growth fronts leading to initiation of α-growth. These transformations are associated with the generally higher growth rate of α-spherulites which may exceed that of their mixed counterparts by almost seven times. However, with increasing temperature this difference in growth rates is progressively reduced and ultimately reversed.     

聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二醇酯溶液浇铸薄膜形态结构

聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二醇酯(PTT)是典型的半结晶聚合物,从熔体结晶形成球品,在某一结晶温度范围内,在球晶中可观察到环带结构,一般认为,环带球品的形成归因于片晶沿球晶径向的周期性扭曲,本文研究了PTT溶液浇铸薄膜在溶剂挥发过程中等温结晶的形态结构。     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. II. Morphology and crystallization kinetics by time resolved X‐ray scattering

The development of the morphology in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PVDF/PHB) blends upon isothermal and anisothermal crystallization is investigated by time‐resolved small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. The components are completely miscible in the melt but crystallize separately; they crystallize stepwise at different temperatures or sequentially with isothermal or anisothermal conditions, respectively. The PVDF crystallizes undisturbed whereas PHB crystallizes in a confined space that is determined by the existing supermolecular structure of the PVDF. The investigations reveal that composition inhomogeneities may initially develop in the remaining melt or in the amorphous phases of the PVDF upon crystallization of that component. The subsequent crystallization of the PHB depends on these heterogeneities and the supermolecular structure of PVDF (dendritically or globularly spherulitic). PHB may form separate spherulites that start to grow from the melt, or it may develop “interlocking spherulites” that start to grow from inside a PVDF spherulite. Occasionally, a large number of PVDF spherulites may be incorporated into PHB interlocking spherulites. The separate PHB spherulites may intrude into the PVDF spherulites upon further growth, which results in “interpenetrating spherulites.” Interlocking and interpenetrating are realized by the growth of separate lamellar stacks (“fibrils”) of the blend components. There is no interlamellar growth. The growth direction of the PHB fibrils follows that of the existing PVDF fibrils. Depending on the distribution of the PHB molecules on the interlamellar and interfibrillar PVDF regions, the lamellar arrangement of the PVDF may contract or expand upon PHB crystallization and the adjacent fibrils of the two components are linked or clearly separated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 974–985, 2004     

聚(丁二酸丁二酯-co-丁二酸丙二酯)的等温结晶行为研究

以1,4-丁二酸、1,4-丁二醇和1,3-丙二醇为原料通过直接熔融缩聚法合成了聚丁二酸丁二酯(PBS),聚丁二酸丙二酯(PPS)和聚(丁二酸丁二酯-co-丁二酸丙二酯)(PBSPS)等脂肪族聚酯.利用1H-NMR,WAXD,DSC和POM等研究了聚酯的结晶结构和结晶动力学过程等结晶行为.PBSPS的结晶晶型与PBS一致,说明只有丁二酸丁二酯(BS)单元结晶而丁二酸丙二酯(PS)单元处于无定形区.聚酯等温结晶后,在升温熔融过程中出现了多重熔融峰.分析表明多重熔融峰主要来自于聚酯升温过程中的熔融-重结晶行为.利用Avrami方程分析了聚酯的等温结晶动力学,Avrami指数n为2.2~2.8,说明聚酯等温结晶时主要以异相成核的三维生长方式进行;随着PS单元的增多,聚酯的表观结晶活化能升高,也就是说BS单元的结晶变得困难.POM观察到聚酯等温结晶时都出现了环带球晶现象,球晶形态会随着结晶温度和化学结构差异而改变.     

Crystallization and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends. III. Crystallization and phase diagram by differential scanning calorimetry

The crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) blends was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, from which the phase diagram was derived. Strong miscibility was underlined by the large negative Flory–Huggins interaction parameter (?0.25). The crystallization of the blend components differed remarkably. Whereas PVDF always crystallized in the surroundings of a homogeneous melt, PHB crystallized in a volume that was confined by the already existing PVDF spherulites, partly in their surroundings and partly inside. Under isothermal conditions, PVDF usually crystallized regularly in three dimensions with predominant quench‐induced athermal nucleation. The Avrami exponent for PVDF dendritic spherulitic growth was, however, distinctly smaller than that for compact growth, and this revealed the two‐dimensional lamellar growth inside. This deviation from ideal Avrami behavior was caused by the development of compositional inhomogeneities as PVDF crystallization proceeded, and this decelerated the kinetics. PHB crystallized three‐dimensionally with mixed thermal and athermal nucleation outside the PVDF spherulites. Inside the PVDF spherulites, PHB crystallization proceeded in a fibrillar fashion with thermal nucleation; the growth front followed the amorphous paths inside the dendritic PVDF spherulites. The crystallization was faster than that in the melt of uncrystallized PVDF. Solid PVDF acts possibly heterogeneously nucleating, accelerating PHB crystallization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 287–295, 2005     

Morphological development of melt crystallized poly(propylene oxide) by in situ AFM: formation of banded spherulites

The morphology of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) crystals grown from the melt was investigated. The spherulites of the optically pure S polymers displayed a regular pattern of concentric rings as observed by polarizing optical microscopy, while the stereocopolymer developed irregularly banded, or non-banded spherulites depending on the degree of undercooling. The organization of the lamellar crystals within the spherulites was examined by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). For all cases, the lamellar structures appeared to adopt an alternating flat or edge-on orientation. Examination of the morphology of single crystals in the melt of the stereocopolymer revealed truncated-lozenge crystals, which were elongated in shape. Results from crystallization kinetics, obtained by in situ AFM observations, showed that the elongated habit is related to differences in the growth rates of the {2 0 0} and {1 1 0} facets. Interestingly, the melt-grown RS-PPO crystals developed a curved asymmetrical three-dimensional shape. Based on these observations it can be proposed that the chiral nature of the chain is transmitted to higher structural levels of ordering in the crystal aggregates.     

Free poly(l‐lactic acid) spherulites grown from thermally induced phase separation and crystallization kinetics

Free poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) sheaves and spherulites were prepared by thermally induced phase separation method from its tetrahydrofuran solution without the assistance of other additives. The effects of variables such as polymer concentration, quenching temperature and time on the morphology of PLLA spherulites were studied. The morphology, size, degree of crystallinity, and crystal structure of spherulites were characterized by SEM, DSC and XRD, and so forth. No obvious sheaves or spherulites were observed at quenching temperature of 8 and 0 °C, whereas sheaves composed of fluffy nanofibers with diameter of about 250 nm were formed at quenching temperature range of ?10 to ?40 °C. With increasing quenching time, the PLLA morphology changed from small sheaves to big sheaves (cauliflower‐like) to spherulites. Low concentration (3 and 5 wt %) solutions were favorable for the formation of sheaves, whereas high concentration (7 wt %) solution as good for the formation of spherulites. The mechanism for the formation of PLLA sheaves or spherulites was examined by the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization of PLLA/tetrahydrofuran solutions using DSC. The Avrami equation was used to analyze the data and good linear double‐logarithmic plots were obtained. The Avrami exponent n and rate constant K indicated the crystal growth mechanism was intermediate between completely instantaneous and completely sporadic types of nucleation and growth, and the spherulites were there dimensional. Compared to the spherulites embedded in the bulky film obtained from the melt processing, this study provided a feasible technique for the fabrication of free PLLA spherulites. The PLLA spherulites composed of fluffy nanofibers with a high porosity (≥90%) may be potentially applied as functional materials such as catalyst support, adsorption and biomedical materials, and so forth. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1476–1489