Crystal structure and thermal behavior of cold-crystallized poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

The structure and thermal behavior of cold-crystallized poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) are revealed in detail by DSC, AFM, TEM, and WAXD as well as in situ FTIR and SAXS techniques. There is no effect of crystallization temperature and initial state on the crystal modification, yet the morphology is strongly affected by these two factors. First, the small rod-like lamellae for PTT are obtained during the cold crystallization instead of the spherulites formed in the melt crystallization. Second, the edge-on lamellar orientation in thin films is identified during the cold crystallization. The thickness and the lateral width of rod-like lamellae get larger and larger with increasing crystallization temperature. Thin lamellar crystals assemble randomly when the cold-crystallization temperature is lower, while lamellar stacks composed of thicker lamellae are observed when the PTT was annealed at elevated temperature. Moreover, for the cold-crystallized PTT, the final melting temperature does not vary with the crystallization temperature. This phenomenon is explained by the structural improvement during the heating process. For the cold-crystallized PTT sample at lower temperature, three transitions occur when it is heated again: the relaxation of the rigid amorphous phase, the reorganization of molecules in the intermediate phase, and then the melt–recrystallization behavior. Those transitions finally lead to thicker lamellae besides a higher crystallinity before the final fusion. Therefore, the final melting peak of these lamellae is at the same temperature.     

Analysis of the complex thermal behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid) film. II. Samples crystallized from the melt

The complex thermal behavior of poly(l ‐lactic acid) films crystallized from the melt, either isothermally or nonisothermally, was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X‐ray diffraction, and small angle X‐ray scattering. The variation of the thermal behavior with crystallization temperature, time, and cooling rate was documented and analyzed. After nonisothermal crystallization at low cooling rates that develop high crystallinity, an obvious double melting peak appears at modest heating rates (e.g., 10 °C/min). At higher heating rates, these samples exhibit only single melting. However, an unusual form of double melting occurs under the majority of the conditions studied under either isothermal or nonisothermal conditions. In this case, double melting is marked by the appearance of a recrystallization exotherm just prior to the final melting that obscures the observation of the melting of the crystals formed during the initial crystallization process. The occurrence of double melting in melt‐crystallized samples was concluded to be the result of a melt‐recrystallization process occurring during the subsequent DSC heating scan; it is a function of crystalline perfection, not the initial crystallinity, nor whether or not the crystallization reached completion at the crystallization temperature. Many other very interesting observations are also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3378–3391, 2006     

MULTIPLE MELTING IN NYLON 1010

Multiple melting behavior of nylon 1010 has been investigated by using DSC instrument. Effects of partial scanning, partial scanning and annealing, heating rate, cooling rate and stepwise annealing on the melting curve were studied. Experimental results indicate that the sample undergoes a process of continuous melting and recrystallization during DSC scanning. Nylon 1010 contains a distribution of crystallites of different degrees of perfection which is strongly dependent on its previous thermal history. From the structural reorganization point of view, the origin of double and multiple peaks of the melting curve is explained.     

尼龙1010的多重熔化

本文用差示扫描量热法(DSC)研究了尼龙1010的多重熔化行为。研究了部分扫描,部分扫描再退火,加热速率,冷却速率,依次降温退火对熔化曲线的影响。实验结果表明,在DSC扫描过程中试样经历了连续熔化与再结晶的过程。尼龙1010含有强烈地依赖于其热历史的晶体完全程度的分布,从结构再组合观点解释了熔化曲线上双重和多重熔化峰的原因。     

Step-scan TMDSC and high rate DSC study of the multiple melting behavior of poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate)

The multiple melting behavior of poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) (PPT) samples after isothermal crystallization from the melt was studied. The step-scan temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and high rate DSC were used to investigate this behavior in conjunction with standard DSC, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarizing light microscopy (PLM). The effect of PPT average molecular weight on the melting was also examined. In general multiple endotherms after isothermal crystallization of PPT were attributed to a continuous crystal perfection process during the subsequent heating scan via melting-recrystallization-remelting. Multiple melting behavior was more pronounced for the low molecular weight PPT. Step-scan TMDSC showed that extensive recrystallization occurs in PPT samples, especially after rapid isothermal crystallization. In fact two recrystallization exothermic peaks were observed. High rate DSC revealed the initial morphology generated during the isothermal step and showed that the low and middle peaks are associated with melting of primary crystals while the high temperature peak should be attributed to melting of recrystallized material.     

聚β-羟基丁酸酯顺丁烯二酸酐接枝共聚物的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为

采用DSC方法对聚 β 羟基丁酸酯顺丁烯二酸酐接枝共聚物 (PHB g MA)的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为进行了研究 .结果表明 ,顺丁烯二酸酐的引入使得聚 β 羟基丁酸酯的结晶能力下降 ,但是并没有改变它的结晶成核机理和生长方式 .随着接枝率的增加 ,结晶活化能增加 .等温结晶后的PHB g MA表现出双熔融行为 ,这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果     

The multiple melting endotherms from poly(butylene terephthalate)

The melting behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) has been investigated, and a simulation has been performed to determine whether the multiple melting endotherms observed during the thermal analysis of PBT can be explained by the simultaneous melting and recrystallization of an initial distribution of crystal melting temperatures that contains only one maximum and two inflection points. Specimens that were cooled at constant rates from the melt showed between one and three melting endotherms upon heating in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The position and breadth of the crystallization exotherms upon cooling from the melt and small-angle x-ray scattering showed that as the cooling rate is increased, the distribution of melting temperatures broadens and shifts to lower temperatures. By combining temperature-dependent recrystallization with an initial distribution of melting temperatures, simulated DSC curves were produced that agreed well with experimental DSC curves. In instances of triple peaked curves, the high temperature peak was due to crystals formed during the scanning process, and the middle and low temperature peaks were due to crystals originally present in the material. Satisfactory agreement between the experimental and simulated curves was found without considering additional crystallization from the amorphous regions during the scanning process.     

Isothermal crystallisation kinetics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) using step-scan DSC

The crystallisation kinetics, melting behaviour and morphology, of bacterial poly(3-hydoxybutyrate) (PHB) have been investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), step-scan DSC (SDSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD) and hot stage polarised optical microscopy (HSPOM). DSC imparted isothermal crystallisation thermal history. The subsequent melting behaviour revealed that all PHB materials experienced secondary crystallisation during heating and the extent of secondary crystallisation varied depending on the crystallisation temperature. PHB samples were found to exhibit double melting behaviour due to melting of SDSC scan-induced secondary crystals, while considerable secondary crystallisation or annealing took place under the modulated heating conditions. The overall melting behaviour was rationalised in terms of recrystallisation and/or annealing of crystals. Interestingly, the PHB materials analysed by SDSC showed a broad exotherm before the melting peak in the non-reversing curve and a multiple melting peak reversing curve, verifying that the melting-recrystallisation and remelting process was operative. HSOM studies supported the conclusions from DSC that the radial growth rate of the PHB spherulites was significantly varied upon the crystallisation conditions. One form of crystals was shown by WAXRD from isothermally crystallised PHB.     

Reversible and irreversible heat capacity of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) analyzed by temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The heat capacity of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) has been analyzed using temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and compared with results obtained earlier from adiabatic calorimetry and standard differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Using quasi‐isothermal TMDSC, the apparent reversing and nonreversing heat capacities were determined from 220 to 540 K, including glass and melting transitions. Truly reversible and time‐dependent irreversible heat effects were separated. The extrapolated vibrational heat capacity of the solid and the total heat capacity of the liquid served as baselines for the analysis. As one approaches the melting region from lower temperature, semicrystalline PTT shows a reversing heat capacity, which is larger than that of the liquid, an observation that is common also for other polymers. This higher heat capacity is interpreted as a reversible surface or bulk melting and crystallization, which does not need to undergo molecular nucleation. Additional time‐dependent, reversing contributions, dominating at temperatures even closer to the melting peak, are linked to reorganization and recrystallization (annealing), while the major melting is fully irreversible (nonreversing contribution). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 622–631, 2000     

Miscibility and thermal properties of melt‐mixed poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/amorphous copolyester blends

This work examined the miscibility, crystallization kinetics, and melting behavior of melt‐mixed poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/poly(ethylene‐co‐cyclohexane 1,4‐dimethanol terephthalate) (PETG) blends. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction techniques were used to approach the goals. The single composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperatures of the blends and the equilibrium melting temperature (T) depression of PTT in the blends indicated the miscible characteristic of the blend system at all compositions. T of pure PTT, determined with a conventional extrapolative method, was 525.8 K. Furthermore, the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter was estimated to be ?0.38. The dynamic and isothermal crystallization abilities of PTT were hindered by the incorporation of PETG. A complex melting behavior was observed for pure PTT and its blends. The observed complex melting behavior resulted mainly from the recrystallization and/or reorganization of the originally formed crystals during the heating scans. For the samples crystallized under the same conditions, the degree of recrystallization and/or reorganization declined with increasing PETG contents in the blends. The preliminary results obtained from the DSC experiments suggested that untraceable interchange reactions occurred in the studied blends. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2264–2274, 2003     

Origin of double melting peaks in drawn nylon 6 yarns

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting curves of drawn nylon 6 were studied from the standpoint of reorganization of the crystals during the heating process. A new method was presented to obtain the DSC curve associated with the growth and melting of the original crystals, and that with the recrystallization and final melting process, separately. The results obtained show that, in the case of a heating rate of 10°C/min, the original crystals in the sample start perfecting themselves at temperatures far below their initial melting temperature and melt out below 222°C, recrystallization starts at about 210°C, and the newly emerged crystals melt out at 228°C. The superposition of two such constructed DSC curves reproduces the observed DSC curve well. Therefore, the double melting peaks of the sample are considered to be the result of superposition of three processes which occur successively during heating; perfection of the original crystals, melting of the perfected crystals concurrently with recrystallization, and melting of the recrystallized crystals.     

Melting behaviors,crystallization kinetics,and spherulitic morphologies of poly(butylene succinate) and its copolyester modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride

This article investigated the melting behaviors, crystallization kinetics, and spherulitic morphologies of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and its copolyester (PBSR) modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride, using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and polarized optical microscope. Subsequent DSC scans of isothermally crystallized PBS and PBSR exhibited two melting endotherms, respectively, which was due to the melt‐recrystallization process occurring during the DSC scans. The equilibrium melting point of PBSR (125.9 °C) was lower than that of PBS (139 °C). The commonly used Avrami equation was used to describe the isothermal crystallization kinetics. For nonisothermal crystallization studies, the model combining Avrami equation and Ozawa equation was employed. The result showed a consistent trend in the crystallization process. The crystallization rate was decreased, the perfection of crystals was decreased, the recrystallization was reduced, and the spherulitic morphologies were changed when the huge hydrogenated phenanthrene ring was added into the chain of PBS. The activation energy (ΔE) for the isothermal crystallization process determined by Arrhenius method was 255.9 kJ/mol for PBS and 345.7 kJ/mol for PBSR. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 900–913, 2006     

Thermal memory of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) using temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The influence of thermal history on morphology, melting, and crystallization behavior of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) has been investigated using temperature‐modulated DSC (TMDSC), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXRD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Various thermal histories were imparted by crystallization with continuous and different modulated cooling programs that involved isoscan and cool–heat segments. The subsequent melting behavior revealed that PHB experienced secondary crystallization during heating and the extent of secondary crystallization varied with the cooling treatment. PHB crystallized under slow, continuous, and moderate cooling rates were found to exhibit double melting behavior due to melting of TMDSC scan‐induced secondary crystals. PHB underwent considerable secondary crystallization/annealing that took place under modulated cooling conditions. The overall melting behavior was interpreted in terms of recrystallization and/or annealing of crystals. Interestingly, the PHB analyzed by temperature modulation programs showed a broad exotherm before the melting peak in the nonreversing heat capacity curve and a multiple melting reversing curve, verifying that the melting–recrystallization and remelting process was operative. WAXRD and POM studies supported the correlations from DSC and TMDSC results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 70–78, 2006     

DSC investigation of an isothermal crystallized poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Two samples of poly(ethylene terephthalate), oriented and unoriented (annealed for several times and temperatures), were scanned by DSC. The density of the samples was also determined. A thermal process was observed in the region between the glass transition and the melting temperature. The position of this thermal process is related to the annealing temperature. The model of the process was proposed as a simultaneous partial melting and recrystallization. The shape of the heating curve depends on the rate of both processes.     

Analysis of the complex thermal behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid) film. I. Samples crystallized from the glassy state

The melting behavior of poly(L ‐lactic acid) film crystallized from the glassy state, either isothermally or nonisothermally, was studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). Up to three crystallization and two melting peaks were observed. It was concluded that these effects could largely be accounted for on the basis of a “melt‐recrystallization” mechanism. When molecular weight is low, two melting endotherms are readily observed. But, without TMDSC, the double melting phenomena of high molecular weight PLLA is often masked by an exotherm just prior to the final melting, as metastable crystals undergo melt‐recrystallization during heating in the DSC. The appearance of a double cold‐crystallization peak during the DSC heating scan of amorphous PLLA film is the net effect of cold crystallization and melt‐recrystallization of metastable crystals formed during the initial cold crystallization. Samples cold‐crystallized at 80 and 90 °C did not exhibit a long period, although substantial crystallinity developed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3200–3214, 2006     

Solution grown isotactic polystyrene crystals. II. Kinetics of thermal changes by x-ray diffraction

The present paper is a study of the annealing, melting, and recrystallization behavior of solution grown isotactic polystyrene crystals in order to elucidate changes both in total lamellar thickness and in the thickness of the crystalline “core” as a function of temperature. The lamellar thickness was obtained from x-ray long spacings and the core thickness from the broadening of appropriate reflections, both assessed by a high sensitivity x-ray detector system able to produce records within a few minutes during time dependent processes. The x-ray results were correlated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. On heating, first the usual annealing effects with little net melting were observed, but on increasing the temperature large changes in long spacing, which were reversible with temperature, were seen accompanied by only small changes in crystal core thickness. The second effect was found to be associated with a substantial degree of melting. Even after heating above the temperature where complete melting was indicated by DSC, the recrystallization rate was found to decrease as the melt temperature was increased and to be much faster than on cooling from the usual melts. Strikingly, this recrystallization was accompanied by a decrease in long period with time even under isothermal conditions. It is inferred that the memory of the preceding crystalline stack is preserved throughout the melting range and even beyond this, far into the molten state. This “seeding” effect is intrinsic to the polymer even if its nature cannot be specified. The principal effects in question can then be explained by envisaging that randomly placed lamellas gradually disappear within the stack on melting and successively reappear on crystallization during cooling. These ideas agree well with previous work on reversible long spacing changes in polyethylene (see ref. 9) and are likely to be of wider generality for melting and recrystallization phenomena in systems having stacked lamellar morphologies.     

聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二酯的自晶种成核等温结晶动力学

研究了自晶种成核对聚对苯二甲酸1,3-丙二酯(PTT)结晶行为的影响.示差扫描量热结果表明,经过自晶种成核处理后,PTT的结晶温度明显增加.应用Avrami方程分析了PTT等温结晶动力学,Avrami指数n的平均值为3.34,表明初级结晶为三维球晶生长.自晶种成核导致结晶活化能和链折叠功减小,促进PTT的结晶.     

Crystallization behavior and morphology of poly(butylene succinate) modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride

The melting behavior, crystallization behavior, and morphology of PBSR, which is Poly(butylene succinate) modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride (RMA), were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscope (POM). The multiple endotherms were ascribed to the recrystallization during DSC measurement and the equilibrium melting temperature determined by the Peak L, which was associated with the fusion of the crystals grown by normal primary crystallization, was 125.9 °C. After the kinetic parameters for isothermal crystallization of PBSR were determined by Avrami equation, to make a detailed regime transition analysis, the well‐established Lauritzen–Hoffman equation was employed. The results indicated that there were two regimes, regime II and regime III, in the range of higher and lower crystallization temperature, respectively. The regime transition temperature is about 81 °C. At last, the spherulitic morphologies of PBSR after being crystallized isothermally at different temperature were observed with the help of POM. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2694–2704, 2005     

尼龙66盐固态缩聚反应的研究

采用测定转化率和特性粘数、红外光谱、偏光显微镜、扫描电镜和DSC等方法,研究了结晶尼龙66盐固态缩聚过程的反应历程、初生态尼龙66的结晶形态及其热行为与热历史的关系。实验结果表明,在缩聚过程中尼龙66盐结晶的缺陷可以诱发大分子相的成核,并出现外延结晶过程。发现,初生态尼龙66呈现出原纤状结构状态,且原纤的取向取决于反应条件;讨论了初生态尼龙66在DSC谱上所出现的熔融双峰现象。