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     

The effect of spherulitic truncation on small-angle light scattering

The effects of spherulitic truncation on the H_v small-angle light-scattering (SALS) patterns are determined by computer simulation of spherulite nucleation and growth. The simulation is carried out for simultaneous and sporadic nucleation of two-dimensional spherulites and simultaneous nucleation of three-dimensional spherulites. The scattered intensity differences between truncated spherulites and round spherulites are determined as functions of the type of growth and the volume (or area) fraction of spherulites. Methods for the determination of certain geometrical characteristics of spherulites systems by SALS are developed. These characteristics include the volume (or area). fraction of spherulites, the average spherulite radius, and the average spherulite volume (or area). The results of this study are essential in the quantitative analysis of H_v SALS from spherulitic systems. The simulation process is readily extendable to the examination of other morphological phenomena by SALS.     

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on crystallization behavior of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

The effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization behavior of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has been investigated. The results have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) act as an effective heterogeneous nucleation agent, inducing an increase in crystallinity and crystallite sizes. Comparing with the double melting peaks in pure PHBV, there is only one peak in the melting curves of nanocomposites. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of PHBV and its nanocomposite containing 0.5% CNTs were examined based on Avrami equation, indicating that the crystallization half-time decreases while the overall crystallization rate k increases dramatically with CNTs addition. The spherulitic nucleation and growth kinetics were also discussed grounded on Lauritzen–Hoffman equation. It is found that there is a spherulitic growth rates (G) maximum within selected temperature range in our study. Also, the temperatures corresponding to G maximum shift to a high level with addition of CNTs. The parameters of the equilibrium melting temperature T_m⁰ T_m^0 , the nucleation parameter K _g , the lateral surface free energy σ, the fold surface free energy σ _e , and the work of chain folding q of PHBV and its composite containing 0.5% CNTs were all calculated. The reductions of K _g , σ _e and q values of nanocomposite are in agreement with the fact that the crystallization rate of PHBV increases greatly by addition of CNTs.     

Evaluation of compatibility in polymer blend systems by simultaneous DSC-FTIR measurement

The concept of crystallization dynamics method evaluating the miscibility of binary blend system including crystalline component was proposed. Three characteristic rates, nucleation, crystal growth rates (N*, G*) and growth rate of conformation (G _c*) were used to evaluate the miscibility of PVDF/at-PMMA and PVDF/iso-PMMA by the simultaneous DSC-FTIR. N*, G* and G _c* depended remarkably on both temperature and blend fraction (ϕ_PMMA) for PVDF/at-PMMA system, which indicated the miscible system. PVDF/iso-PMMA showed small ϕ_PMMA dependency of N*, G* and G _c*, was estimated the immiscible system. The ΔT/T _m⁰ values, corresponding to Gibbs energy required to attend the constant G* and G _c*, evaluated from G* and G _c* showed the good linear relationships with different slope. The experimental results suggested that the concentration fluctuation existed in PVDF/iso-PMMA system.     

Crystallization-induced composition inhomogeneities in PVDF/PMMA blends

Composition profiles develop around growing PVDF spherulites in a blend with PMMA. These profiles assume stationary courses after a certain crystallization time provided that the overall degree of crystallinity is not too high. The composition-dependent growth rate and the diffusion-controlled remove of the surplus PMMA from the spherulite surface are then in a stationary equilibrium. The internal structure of the spherulites will then be homogeneous, too. Upon isothermal crystallization of a PVDF/PMMA = 60/40 (wt %) blend at 160°C for at least 4 h, the spherulites internal degree of crystallinity x_c as related to the PVDF fraction obeys the inequality 55 wt % ≤ x_c ≤ 84 wt %. The overall PMMA content within the spherulites as averaged over its whole inside has been determined by IR microscopy. It amounts to about 15 wt %. In contrast, the PMMA content of the amorphous phase within the spherulites (averaged again over its whole inside) ranges between 28 and 52 wt %. This composition jumps at the spherulite surface to 52 wt %. From the slope of the composition profiles outside the spherulites that have a width of more than 50 μm, the effective chain diffusion coefficient in blends as averaged over both components can be calculated to amount to (250 ± 100) μm²h⁻¹. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2923–2930, 1998     

Untersuchung der Kristallisation Unterkühlter GeX2-Schmelzen (X=O,S, Se) durch DTA

GeX₂ glass (X=O, S, Se) of defined grain was investigated at constant heating rateq by applying the DTA. From the DTA-curves measured at differentq the kinetic parameters of crystallization were determined according to the Kissinger method. Under these conditions, the effective activation energies for the oxide, sulfide and selenide were found to be 179, 219 and 298 kJ·mol^?1, respectively. If bulk GeS₂ glass is used as starting material, the shape of the DTA-curves is different from the curves obtained from grainy material and they cannot be evaluated by the Kissinger procedure.     

Kinetics of growth of developing spherulites

A model containing two rate constants is presented for the development of spherulites from sheaves. One, G_R, is a radial spherulite growth constant while the other, G_S, describes the rate of increase of apex angle of the sheaf. On the basis of this model, Avrami kinetics are developed which predict a change in the Avrami constant n from 5 to 3 as the sheaf develops into a spherulite. H_V light-scattering patterns are calculated according to this model and are found to compare favorably with those found during the early stages of the crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate).     

Effect of molecular weight on the growth rates of low melting spherulites of trans-1,4-polyisoprene

Growth rates of G of low-melting spherulites in fractions of trans-1,4-polyisoprene have been measured. The data were analyzed by use of an equation, ln G = ln G₀ ? ΔF^*/RT_c, valid at temperatures close to the equilibrium melting point. Plots of ln G against a function of the critical free energy of nucleation ΔF^* result in a family of straight lines having a common intercept, ln G₀, which is independent of molecular weight. The slope of these lines is a measure of the interfacial free energy of the crystallites and increases with the molecular weight, reflecting increasing irregularity in the structure of the semicrystalline mass. Comparison of growth rates of low-melting and high-melting trans-1,4-polyisoprene indicates that G₀ does not, to a first approximation, depend on the nature of the crystals growing from the melt. The temperature at which spherulites of the two crystalline forms grow at equal rates has been calculated.     

Tetrachlorobisphenol-A adipate polymers. II. Spherulitic crystallization of poly(tetrachlorobisphenol-A adipate)

The spherulitic radical growth rate G of poly(tetrachlorobisphenol-A adipate) was studied at different crystallization temperatures as a function of molecular weight using an optical polarizing microscope. By assuming a two-dimensional growth mechanism, with a jump factor G₀ depending on the molecular weight, and assuming surface energy terms σ_u and σ_e essentially constant, it is possible to correlate the growth-rate data with the model of Hoffman.     

Activation energy of Se2Ge0.2Sb0.8 chalcogenide glass by differential scanning calorimetry

Results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different heating rates on Se₂Ge_0.2Sb_0.8 chalcogenide glass are reported and discussed. As the heating rate () changed, also the glass transition temperature (T _g) and onset temperature of crystallization (T _c) changed. As the value of the transition activation energyE _t changed, the crystallization fraction (), heat flow (_q and the crystallization peak temperature (T _p) also changed. The value of the effective activation energy of crystallizationE _c was calculated by means of six different methods. The Se₂Ge_0.2Sb_0.8 chalcogenide glass has two crystallization mechanisms, a one-dimensional and an other surface crystallization growth. The average value ofE _t for Se₂Ge_0.2Sb_0.8 is equal to 194.95±3.9 kJ·mol^–1 and the average value ofE _c is equal to 164±3.3 kJ·mol^–1.     

Effects of glucose,glutamine, and malate on the metabolism of spodoptera frugiperda clone 9 (sf9) cells

Optimal design and operation of bioreactors for insect cell culture is facilitated by functional relations providing quantitative information on cellular metabolite consumption kinetics, as well as on the specific cell growth rates (μ_G). Initial specific consumption rates of glucose, malate, and oxygen, and associated changes in μ_G, were measured forSpodoptera frugiperda clone 9 (Sf9) cells grown in batch suspension culture in medium containing 7–35 mM glucose, 0–16 mM malate, and 4–16 mM glutamine. The initial specific glucose consumption rate (q _G ) could be described by a modified Michaelis-Menten equation treating malate as a “competitive” inhibitorK ₁ = 6.5 mM) and glutamine as a “noncompetitive” inhibitorK _I = 14 mM) ofq _G , with aK _m of 7.1 mM for glucose. All three carbon sources were found to increase μ_G in a saturable manner, and a modified Monod equation was employed to describe this relationship (μ_Gmax = 0.047 h^-1). The initial specific oxygen consumption rate (q_O2) in Sf9 cells could be related to μ_G by the maintenance energy model, and it was calculated that, under typical culture conditions, about 15–20% of the cellular energy demand comes from functions not related to growth. Fitted parameters in mathematical expression for μg: K₄, Monod constant for glucose (mM); K₅, modified Monod constant for malate (mM); K₆, Monod constant for glutamine (mM); m_o2, specific consumption rate of oxygen by the cells under zero-growth conditions (nmol/cell/h); q_F, initial specific fumarate production rate (nmol/cell/ h);q _G , initial specific glucose consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); q_Gmax, maximum initial specific glucose consumption rate (nmol/cell/h);q _M , initial specific malate consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); q_o2, initial specific oxygen consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); Y_o2, cell yield on oxygen (cells/nmol); μ, initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1); μ_g, initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1); μG_max, maximum initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1).     

Small-angle light scattering by random assemblies of incomplete spherulites. Systems with partial degree of volume filling

A theory is presented to account for the effect of the impingement of growing spherulites on their H_v small-angle light scattering patterns. The theory is developed on the basis of results of computer-simulated two-dimensional spherulite growth and calculated scattered intensities. The impingement produces a lowering of the intensity of the scattering maximum and the diminishing of the overall sharpness of the scattering peak. The extent of these effects increases with area fraction of spherulites. A procedure is suggested for determining correction factors that may be applied to intensity data obtained during the course of spherulite crystallization. An interpretation is made of the type of average spherulite size determined from the scattering angle of maximum intensity.     

Formation of interpenetrated spherulites based on miscible crystalline polymer blends

The morphology and formation process of interpenetrated spherulites of poly(butylene succinate)/poly(vinylidene choloride‐co‐vinyl chloride) (PBSU/PVDCVC) blends were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). CLSM images showed that the dense fibrils of PBSU spherulites penetrated into the sparse PVDCVC spherulites. For a blend with PBSU content 50% and crystallization temperature T_c = 368 K, the simultaneous growth of PBSU and PVDCVC spherulites was observed. After PBSU fibrils collided with PVDCVC spherulites, they kept growing through PVDCVC spherulites. For a blend with PBSU content 30% and T_c = 363 K, PBSU started to nucleate after PVDCVC spherulites filled the whole space.     

Synthesis,crystallization kinetics,and spherulitic growth of linear and star‐shaped poly(L‐lactide)s with different numbers of arms

Well‐defined linear poly(L ‐lactide)s with one or two arms (LPLLA and 2LPLLA, respectively) and star‐shaped poly(L ‐lactide)s with four or six arms (4sPLLA and 6sPLLA, respectively) were synthesized and then used for the investigation of the thermal properties, isothermal crystallization kinetics, and spherulitic growth. The maximal melting temperature, the cold‐crystallization temperature, and the degree of crystallinity of these poly(L ‐lactide) polymers decreased with an increasing number of arms in the macromolecule. Moreover, the isothermal crystallization rate constant (K) of these poly(L ‐lactide) polymers decreased in the order of K_LPLLA > K_2LPLLA > K_4sPLLA > K_6sPLLA2, which was consistent with the variation trend of the spherulitic growth rate (G). Meanwhile, both K and G of 6sPLLA slightly increased with the increasing molecular weight of the polymer. Furthermore, both LPLLA and 2LPLLA presented spherulites with good morphology and apparent Maltese cross patterns, whereas both unclear Maltese cross patterns and imperfect crystallization were observed for the star‐shaped 4sPLLA and 6sPLLA polymers. These results indicated that both the macromolecular architecture and the molecular weight of the polymer controlled K, G, and the spherulitic morphology of these poly(L ‐lactide) polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2226–2236, 2006     

Miscibility enhancement and formation of interpenetrating spherulites in ternary blends of crystalline polymers

Miscible blends of three crystalline polymers, namely poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(ethylene succinate) (PES), and poly(oxyethylene) (POE), exhibited interpenetrating spherulites, where a spherulite of one component grows inside the spherulites of other components. PBS and PES were immiscible above the melting points, T_m, of these substances, while ternary blends with POE showed miscibility, which depended on the molecular weight of POE. PBS and PES exhibited the same spherulitic growth process as in a miscible binary blend when they were crystallized from a homogeneous ternary melt. Spherulites of PBS, which is the highest‐T_m component, filled the whole volume first when a miscible ternary blend was quenched below T_m of POE, the lowest‐T_m component. Then, the blends showed either two types of crystallization processes. One was successive nucleation and growth of PES and POE spherulites, that is, PES nucleated and developed spherulites inside the PBS spherulites and then POE spherulites grew inside the interlocked spherulites of PBS and PES. The other was simultaneous growth and the formation of interpenetrating spherulites of PES and POE inside the PBS spherulites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 706–711, 2010     

Melt crystallization and morphology of poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers with different compositions and molecular weights

Ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone was realized in the presence of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) with M_n = 1000 and 2000, using Zn(La)₂ as catalyst. The resulting PCL‐PEG diblock copolymers with CL/EO repeat unit molar ratios from 0.2 to 3.0 were characterized by using DSC, WAXD, SEC, and ¹H NMR. The crystal phase of PCL blocks exist in all polymers, and the crystallization ability of PCL blocks increases with CL/EO ratio. PEG blocks are able to crystallize for copolymers with CL/EO below 1.0 only. Melt crystallization results were analyzed with Avrami equation. The Averami exponent n is around 3.0 in most cases, in agreement with heterogeneous nucleation with three dimensional growth. The morphology of the crystals was observed by using POM. Rod‐like crystals were found to grow in 1, 3 or 2, 4 quadrants for samples with low molecular weights. In the case of a copolymer with M_n,PEG = 2000 and M_n,PCL = 800, PEG blocks could crystallize and grow on PCL crystals after PCL finished to form rod‐like crystals, leading to formation of poorly or well structured spherulites. The spherulite growth rate (G) was determined at different crystallization temperatures (T_c) ranging from 9 to 49 °C. All the copolymers present a steady G decrease with increasing crystallization temperature due to lower undercooling. On the other hand, increase of CL/EO ratio leads to increase of G in the same T_c range. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 286–293, 2010     

Study of formation of nano-quasicrystals and crystallization kinetics of Zr-Al-Ni-Cu metallic glass

The formation of nano-quasicrystals on isothermal annealing of melt-spun ribbons of Zr_69.5Al_7.5Ni₁₁Cu₁₂ metallic glass has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallization study of this metallic glass has been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in non-isothermal (linear heating) mode. It exhibits two-stage crystallization where the first stage corresponds to the precipitation of icosohedral nano-quasicrystalline phase. This has been confirmed with the help of TEM investigations. The crystallization parameters like the activation energy (E _c) and frequency factor (k ₀) have been derived using the Kissinger peak shift analysis. The activation energies for the first and second crystallization peak are found to be 278 and 295 kJ mol^–1, respectively. The frequency factors obtained for the two peaks are respectively 7.16·10¹⁹ and 1.42·10²⁰ s^–1. E _c, k ₀ and the Avrami exponent (n) have also been derived by fitting the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation for the transformed volume fraction (x) to the crystallization data. JMAK results of E _c for the first and second crystallization peak turn out to be 270 and 290 kJ mol^–1 respectively. However, k ₀ and n are found to be heating rate dependent as reported in similar studies. The values of n for the first crystallization stage ranges between 1.66 and 2.57 indicating diffusion-controlled transformation in agreement with earlier reports.     

THE SOLID STATE REACTIONS AND TRANSITIONS IN HIGH POLYMERIC SYSTEMS Ⅲ. THE BULK CRYSTALLIZATION OF LANTHANIDECATALYTICALLY POLYMERIZED POLYDIENES

For the mechanism of isothermal bulk crystallization of high polymers, beside the nucleation and growth steps, the unimpingement of growing crystal aggregates should be taken into account for the modification of the Avrami equation. Starting from Poisson distribution function of growing crystal aggregates, the probability of the unimpinging ones should be P(0)+P(1), then the Q-modified Avrami equation thus derived can be expressed aswhere V0 represents the volume fraction of crystal aggregates at crystallization time t at a given temperature, while the exponent n on t relates to the mode of nucleation and growth, and K_q is the corresponding shape factor. This Q-modified one is verified satisfactory by the isothermal bulk crystallization of lanthanidecatalytically polymerized polybutadiene (Ln-PB), polyisoprene (Ln-PIR) and their copolymers (LnPB/IR). Furthermore, the proposed mechanism is well identified by the change of morphological state during the course of crystallization of the corresponding east film of Ln-PB TR (92/8) at-60°(Fig. 1).Upon examination of the influence of the number of entanglement on crystallization rate, it reveals the existence of two stages of entanglementation, the primary and the secondary ones (Fig. 19)The equation for dependence of molecular weight and entanglement on bulk crystallization rate has been derived as Eq. 13 or 18 for Ln-PB, and verified by the experimental rate data of well fractionated Ln-PB samples crystallized at -9.1 to -15℃(Fig.20).     

Study of crystallization kinetics of trans-1,4-polyisoprene

The concentrations and the growth rates of high- and low-melting type spherulites of trans-1,4-polyisoprene were measured in the temperature range 39–49°C. It was shown that above about 40°C., the crystallization rate of trans-1,4-polyisoprene is determined primarily by the radial growth rate of high-melting form (HMF) spherulites, whereas the predominance of the low-melting form (LMF) crystals below 40°C. can be attributed to the high rate of formation of LMF primary nuclei at lower crystallization temperatures. Temperature-independent rate parameters were calculated from optical and dilatometric measurements and were found to be in good agreement. Both the change in nucleation habit and spherulite growth rate with temperature can be explained on the basis of a lower end surface free energy of LMF crystals of trans-1,4-polyisoprene compared to that of the HMF crystals.