Temperature‐dependent polymorphic crystalline structure and melting behavior of poly(butylene adipate) investigated by time‐resolved FTIR spectroscopy

The polymorphic crystalline structure and melting behavior of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) samples melt‐crystallized at different crystallization temperatures were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystalline structure and melting behavior of PBA were found to be greatly dependent on the crystallization temperature. By comparison of the FTIR spectra and the corresponding second derivatives between the α‐ and β‐crystal of PBA, the spectral differences were identified for the IR bands appeared at 1485, 1271, 1183, and 930 cm^?1 and the possible reasons were presented. Especially, the 930 cm^?1 band was found to be a characteristic band for the β‐crystal. Combining the DSC data with the analysis of normalized intensity changes of several main IR bands during the melting process, the melting behaviors of the α‐ and β‐crystal were clarified in detail. It is demonstrated by the in situ IR measurement that the β‐crystalline phase would transform into the α‐crystalline phase during the melting process, and the solid–solid phase transition from the β‐ to α‐crystal was well elucidated by comparing the intensity changes of the 1170 and 930 cm^?1 bands. The dependence of the β‐ to α‐crystal phase transition on the heating rate was revealed by monitoring the intensity ratio of the 909 and 930 cm^?1 band. It was suggested that at the heating rate of 0.5 or 1 °C/min, the percent amount of the transformed α‐crystal from the β‐crystal was much higher than that at the higher heating rate. The β‐crystal transforms into the α‐crystal incompletely at the higher heating rate because of the less time available for the phase transition. In addition, the β‐ to α‐crystal phase transition was further confirmed by the IR band shifts during the melting process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1997–2007, 2009     

One dimensional main-chain crystallization kinetics of poly(3-octylthiophenes) investigated by infrared spectroscopy

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been used to study the melt crystallization behavior of poly(3-octylthiophenes) (P3OT), which is a typical conductive polymer among the family of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs). It is found that, during the isothermal crystallization process at high temperature, the alkyl side chains of P3OT always keep in disordered state, whereas the ordering packing of conjugated backbone takes place. In order to reveal the structural changes and the crystallization kinetics corresponding to the main-chain ordering process, two spectral regions that associated with π–π stacking and the effective conjugation length of P3OT have been analyzed in detail. The characteristic IR bands of crystalline and amorphous phase are identified in each spectral region. Moreover, a simple spectral method has been proposed to calculate the evolution of crystallinity during the isothermal crystallization process of P3OT. Of particular note, the distinct one-dimensional growth kinetic of P3OT crystal has been revealed by Avrami analysis.     

Effects of crystallization temperature and blend ratio on the crystal structure of poly(butylene adipate) in the poly(butylene adipate)/poly(butylene succinate) blends

The effects of crystallization temperature and blend ratio on the polymorphic crystal structures of poly(butylene adipate)(PBA) in poly(butylene succinate)(PBS)/poly(butylene adipate)(PBS/PBA) blends were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction(XRD) and atomic force microscopy(AFM). It was revealed that the polymorphism of PBA can be regulated by the blend ratio even in a non-isothermal crystallization process. The results demonstrate that high temperature favors flat-on α crystals, while low temperature contributes to edge-on β crystals. It was also found that the effect of blend ratio on the crystallization mechanism of PBA is well coincident with that of the crystallization temperature. The increment of PBS content in the PBS/PBA blend gives rise to more β-form crystals of PBA. For those PBS/PBA blends with low PBA content, the interlamellar phase segregation of PBA makes its molecular chains so difficult to diffuse from one isolated microdomain to another that high crystallization temperature and sufficiently long crystallization time will be required if the PBA α-type crystals are targeted.     

热处理对聚己二酸丁二醋多晶结构和降解行为的影响

通过熔融结晶并结合退火处理方法得到多晶结构的聚己二酸丁二酯(PBA)及具有不同热历史的热力学稳定的a晶型,采用广角X射线衍射仪(WAXD)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和差示扫描量热仪(DSC)研究了PBA的多晶结构、晶体尺寸和结晶形貌,跟踪了退火处理PBA的生物降解行为.结果表明,分子链在相同晶格排列中围绕c轴空间取向的不...     

Crystallization of helical oligomers with chirality selection. I. A molecular dynamics simulation for bare helix

Helical polymers often exhibit pronounced chirality recognition during crystallization. By molecular dynamics simulation, we have already shown that the helical polymers crystallize with or without marked chirality selection depending on structural details of the polymer molecules. We have there classified the helical polymers into two categories: the bare helices made of only backbone atoms which show rather tolerant chirality selection, and the general helices with large side groups showing strict chirality recognition. Polymer crystallization is in general largely hampered and retarded by slow dynamics of the entangled chains, and therefore short helical oligomers are very suitable models for studying the chiral crystallization. We here report on molecular simulations of crystallization in the bare helical oligomer molecules by the use of Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. First we confirm the low temperature chiral crystal phase and the reversible order-disorder transition. We also observe frequent inversions of the helical sense, and the helix reversal defects propagating along the chains. Then we investigate crystallization from the melt into the chiral crystal phase. We find that the crystallization rate depends very sensitively on the degree of undercooling. The crystallization is found to be the first order transition that conforms well to the traditional picture of crystal growth in small molecules. Even when the crystallization directly into the chiral crystal phase is conducted, marked chirality selections are not observed at the early stage of crystallization; the chains adhere to the crystal surfaces selecting their helical senses rather at random resulting in racemic crystallites. The isothermal crystallization for a sufficiently long time, however, yields lamellar crystals composed of well-developed chiral domains, the growth of which seems to be accomplished through the transition back into the ordered chiral crystal phase.     

梳状高分子烷基侧链构象和堆积结构的红外光谱研究

以正十九烷和两种接枝烷基链的梳状高分子N-十八烷基聚乙烯亚胺(PEI18C)、N-十八烷基聚对苯甲酰胺(PBA18C)为研究对象,利用红外光谱对处于受限和自由状态的烷基链的构象和堆积结构随温度的变化进行了对比研究.结果表明,处于受限和自由状态的烷基链的构象排列和堆积结构及其转变行为不同,且受限于柔性PEI主链和刚性PBA主链的烷基链也不相同.从主链刚性的角度,探讨了影响烷基侧链构象和堆积结构的原因.     

On the alpha --> beta transition of carbon-coated highly oriented PVDF ultrathin film induced by melt recrystallization

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is one of the polymers which exhibit pronounced polymorphic crystalline forms, depending on crystallization conditions. Four different crystalline modifications, i.e., alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, have been reported so far. Among them, even though the alpha-form is the most common one, the beta-phase is the one that has attracted the widest interest due to its extensive piezo- and pyroelectric applications. During the past few decades, a substantial amount of work has been done in attempts to characterize these crystal modifications and transformations among them. It was well documented that the alpha-form PVDF can be easily obtained through melt crystallization of the PVDF at atmospheric pressure. Its beta-counterpart can, however, only be directly obtained by growth from solution, molecular epitaxy on the surface of potassium bromide, melt crystallization at high pressures, or by applying with a strong electric field. Transformation from its alpha-phase to beta-phase has been achieved by mechanical deformation, while the retransformation could be conducted through melt recrystallization at atmospheric pressure. In the present work, the recrystallization behavior of carbon-coated melt-drawn oriented PVDF ultrathin films at atmospheric pressure was studied by means of transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The results indicate that through vacuum evaporating a thin carbon layer on the surface of highly oriented alpha-PVDF ultrathin film, not only has its high orientation been preserved after a complete melting and recrystallization process, but an alpha --> beta transition of PVDF has also been achieved through melt recrystallization at atmospheric pressure. This technique can be successfully used for preparing highly oriented beta-PVDF ultrathin films, especially patterned microstructures of PVDF with its highly oriented polar beta-phase and nonoriented nonpolar alpha-phase.     

Thermal and X‐ray analysis of polymorphic crystals,melting, and crystalline transformation in poly(butylene adipate)

Polymorphic crystals and complex multiple melting behavior in an aliphatic biodegradable polyester, poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), were thoroughly examined by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Further clarification on mechanisms of multiple melting peaks related to polymorphic crystal forms in PBA was attempted. More stable α‐form crystal is normally favored for crystallization from melt at higher temperatures (31–35 °C), or upon slow cooling from the melt; while the β‐form is the favored species for crystallization at low temperatures (25–28 °C). We further proved that PBA crystallization could also result in all α‐form even at low temperatures (25–28 °C) if it crystallized with the presence of prior α‐form nuclei. PBA packed with both crystal forms could display as many as four melting peaks (P1 ? P4, in ascending temperature order). However, PBA initially containing only the α‐crystal exhibited dual melting peaks of P1 and P3, which are attributed to dual lamellar distributions of the α‐crystal. By contrast, PBA initially containing only the β‐crystal could also exhibit dual melting peaks (P2 and P4) upon scanning. While P2 is clearly associated with melting of the initial β‐crystal, the fourth melting peak (P4), appearing rather broad, was determined to be associated with superimposed thermal events of crystal transformation from β‐ to α‐crystal and final re‐melting of the new re‐organized α‐crystal. Crystal transformation from one to the other or vice versa, lamellae thickening, annealing at molten state, and influence on crystal polymorphism in PBA were analyzed. Relationships and mechanisms of dual peaks for isolate α‐ or β‐crystals in PBA are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1662–1672, 2005     

Influence of Teflon Substrate on Crystallization and Enzymatic Degradation of Polymorphic Poly（butylene adipate）

Oriented and non-oriented Teflon films, which were found to have the same crystalline structure, but different surface morphologies, were used to sandwich poly(butylene adipate)(PBA) films during isothermal crystallization. It was found that both the Teflon surface structure and the PBA polymorphic structure are the determining factors to induce epitaxial crystallization. The oriented Teflon film was able to induce epitaxial crystallization of PBA α crystal, while the non-oriented Teflon did not induce any epitaxial crystallization of PBA. Epitaxial crystallization did not occurred for PBA β crystals between neither the oriented nor the non-oriented Teflon films. The enzymatic degradation rate of PBA films was not determined by the epitaxial crystallization, in fact it was still dependent on the polymorphic crystal structure of PBA. The morphological changes of PBA films after enzymatic degradation confirmed again that the epitaxial crystallization only occurred for the PBA film with α crystal structure which was produced by being sandwiched between oriented Teflon films, and it happened only on the surface of PBA films.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics study on aqueous solution of poly(vinyl methyl ether) by FTIR and optical microscopy method

A study on the isothermal crystallization kinetics of aqueous solution of poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) was carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and optical microscopy respectively. IR spectra of PVME solution were measured as a function of time under the isothermal crystallization conditions. With the process of crystallization, the phase of solution changes from transparent state to opaque one within around 1-2 min for 40 or 45 wt % PVME sample, the C-H symmetric stretching bands (nus(CH3)) shift to lower wave number 2823 cm(-1). The red shift of nus(CH3) absorption band was not observed in the transparent noncrystallization area. Using the temperature jump method, we determined the growth rate of ice crystal between the glass transition temperature Tg and the melting temperature Tm. At the different crystallization temperatures Tc, the different morphologies and dimension of ice crystal are also observed.     

A synchrotron SAXS study of miscible blends of semicrystalline poly(vinylidenefluoride) and semicrystalline poly(1,4‐butylene adipate). II. Crystallization,morphology, and PBA inclusion in PVF2 spherulites

The incorporation of poly(1,4‐butylene adipate) (PBA) and its crystallization behavior within poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVF₂) spherulites in miscible PVF₂/PBA blends have been further studied with small‐angle X‐ray synchrotron scattering (SAXS). The incorporation of PBA into the PVF₂ interlamellar region was found to be dependent on the PVF₂ crystallization conditions. In our previous work, where the blends were crystallized by a one‐step quenching process directly from 190 (a single‐phase region) to 20 °C (a three‐phase region), the transition from PBA inclusion in the PVF₂ interlamellar region to interlamellar exclusion occurred at a PBA weight fraction of ∼ 0.5. In this case, where the blends were first quenched from 190 (a single‐phase region) to 130 °C (a two‐phase region) and then further quenched to 20 °C (a three‐phase region), the transition occurred at a PBA weight fraction of less than 0.3. That is, when a blend is crystallized under different conditions, different amounts of the PBA component are incorporated into the PVF₂ interlamellar phase. The thickness of the PVF₂ interlamellar phase, in turn, may affect the PBA crystalline structure in the interlamellar region. Time‐resolved SAXS was used to probe the crystallization dynamics of both PVF₂ and PBA components in a blend containing 60 wt % PBA. The blend was quenched from the single‐phase region at 190 to 130 °C to crystallize the PVF₂ component and was then further quenched to 20 °C to crystallize the PBA component. This study, together with our earlier results, shows that the time dependence of the PVF₂ crystallization rate and crystalline lamellar thickness is a function of the PBA content in the blend. The glass‐transition temperature of the blend and the PBA diffusion process are the two dominant factors that control the PVF₂ crystallization dynamics. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2296–2308, 2000     

中介相态丙烯-乙烯无规共聚物在热处理过程中的结构演变

通过熔体淬冷方式制备了中介相态丙烯-乙烯无规共聚物(PPR),综合使用原位红外光谱、原位X-射线散射(WAXD/SAXS)、示差扫描量热分析(DSC)和动态机械热分析(DMA)等方法系统研究了中介相态PPR在升温过程中的微观结构演变.红外光谱研究结果表明,在连续升温过程中,中介相态PPR在30~50?C之间分子链构象发生了变化,其可能源于刚性无定形区(RAF)中部分链段构象的无序化转变,并发现在RAF中存在长度为n≤13(n为31螺旋序列中丙烯单元的个数)的螺旋序列.中介相态PPR在连续升温过程中经历了RAF中链段构象的无序化转变、中介相向α晶的转变、不完善α晶的熔融和α晶的完善化,以及α晶熔融4个转变过程.中介相向α晶的转变是一个异相成核生长过程,其结晶活化能ΔE=67.94 k J/mol.     

Crystalline Morphology and Polymorphic Phase Transitions in Electrospun Nylon 6 Nanofibers

Uniform nylon 6 nanofibers with diameters around 200 nm were prepared by electrospinning. Polymorphic phase transitions and crystal orientation of nylon 6 in unconfined (i.e., as-electrospun) and a high T(g) (340 degrees C) polyimide confined nanofibers were studied. Similar to melt-spun nylon 6 fibers, electrospun nylon 6 nanofibers also exhibited predominant, meta-stable gamma crystalline form, and the gamma-crystal (chain) axes preferentially oriented parallel to the fiber axis. Upon annealing above 150 degrees C, gamma-form crystals gradually melted and recrystallized into the thermodynamically stable alpha-form crystals, which ultimately melted at 220 degrees C. Release of surface tension accompanied this melt-recrystallization process, as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry. For confined nanofibers, both the melt-recrystallization and surface tension release processes were substantially depressed; gamma-form crystals did not melt and recrystallize into alpha-form crystals until 210 degrees C, only 10 degrees C below the T(m) at 220 degrees C. After complete melting of nano-confined crystals at 240 degrees C and recrystallization at 100 degrees C, only alpha-form crystals oriented perpendicular to the nanofiber axis were obtained. In the polyimide-confined nanofibers, the Brill transition (from the monoclinic alpha-form to a high temperature monoclinic form) was observed at 180-190 degrees C, which was at least 20 degrees C higher than that in unconfined nylon 6 at approximately 160 degrees C. This, again, was attributed to the confinement effect.     

In situ FT‐Raman spectroscopic study of the conformational changes occurring in isotactic polypropylene during its melting and crystallization processes

The conformational changes occurring in isotactic polypropylene during the melting and crystallization processes have been carefully investigated using FT‐Raman spectroscopy at temperatures below, at, and above the polymer melting point. Results confirmed the retention of some crystallinity up to +210 °C, which is 50 °C above the melting point. It was found that, at temperatures just above the melting point (1–10 °C), there is still some short range order of at least 12 monomer units long in certain regions of the melt. At 10 °C above the melting point, the short range order drops below 12 monomer units resulting in the disappearance of the Raman band at 841 cm^–1. Vice versa, the experimental measurements show that the iPP melt system is stable when the persistence length of helical sequences is less than 12 monomer units. As soon as the helix length exceeds 12 units, the 3₁ helix conformation extends quickly and then crystallization occurs. These results are discussed in terms of Imai's microphase separation theory and it agreed very well with it. Also, from our observations for correlation splitting, Raman bands related to conformational states were identified. This analysis indicates the existence of three different conformational states at 808, 830, and 841 cm^–1. The 808 cm^–1 band was assigned to helical chains within crystals (representing crystalline phase). The 841 cm^–1 band was shown to be composed of a band at 841 cm^–1, assigned to shorter chains in helical conformation with isomeric defects (representing the isomeric defect phase), and a broader band at 830 cm^–1 assigned to chains in nonhelical conformation (representing the melt‐like amorphous phase). This indicates the detection of a three‐phase structure in iPP, where a third phase could be due to the presence of defect regions within the crystalline region, or due to the presence of an amorphous–crystal interphase. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2173–2182, 2006     

细旦尼龙6纤维加工过程中的晶型转化行为

通过引入富镧稀土化合物等添加剂,成功实现了细旦尼龙6纤维的熔融纺丝．考察了在纺丝卷绕成型以及牵伸过程中尼龙6纤维的晶型变化．借助XRD和FT－IR等研究手段,发现尼龙6在纺丝过程中可以生成亚稳态的B晶型晶体．这种β晶型经过沸水处理后很容易转化为α晶型,而γ晶型尼龙6经沸水处理后不发生相转变．因此可以通过沸水热处理的方法区分尼龙6的β和γ晶型．在纤维的卷绕过程中,当熔体拉伸倍数较高时,尼龙6可能产生β晶型;当熔体拉伸倍数较低时,则以γ晶型为主．在纤维的牵伸过程中,γ晶型经过β晶型中间态向α晶型相转变．上述结果对于指导改进细旦尼龙6纤维的加工工艺以及提高产品性能有指导意义．     

Self‐decelerated crystallization in poly(butylene terephthalate)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) blends

Isothermal crystallization of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) blended with oligomeric poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) is investigated by polarized optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry at various temperatures (T_c). The growth rate of PBT spherulites is found to depend on time (t), as the spherulite radius (r) linearly increases with t at the early stages of crystallization (r ∝ t), then, with the progress of phase transition, the spherulite radius becomes dependent on the square root of the time (r ∝ t^1/2) until termination of crystal growth. The nonlinear advance of the crystal growth front is caused by a varied composition of the melt phase in contact with the growing crystals, due to diffusion of mobile PCL chains away from the spherulite surface. The melt phase becomes spatially inhomogeneous, causing self‐deceleration of PBT crystallization until a limit composition that prevents further crystallization is reached in the melt. The maximum crystallinity achievable during isothermal crystallization decreases with T_c. The lowering of the temperature after termination of the isothermal crystallization allows to complete the crystal growth, but the final developed crystallinity still depends on T_c, being lower at higher T_cs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3148–3155, 2007     

Structural evolution of poly(lactic acid) upon uniaxial stretching investigated by in situ infrared spectroscopy

Structural evolution of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) upon uniaxial stretching was studied with in-situ polarized infrared spectroscopy measurements, and its structural change affected by annealing was also investigated. Band shifting was used to reflect the structural ordering process. It was found that the band at 1302 cm⁻¹ always moves to low wavenumbers before crystallization, indicating the occurrence of intermolecular packing ordering. However, the band at 869 cm⁻¹ shifts to high wavenumbers, which is related to the transition from the amorphous phase to the ordered phase. Interestingly, during stretching, the shifting for the band at 1302 cm⁻¹ always occurs before that for the lower wavenumber band, whereas these two band shifts take place simultaneously under annealing. Based on the different characteristics of the structural evolution under stretching and annealing processes, a critical temperature was found at around 63 °C, which influences the effect weight of kinetic and thermodynamic factors to the crystallization behavior. The effect of the drawing temperature on crystallization and mechanical property of PLA films was also analyzed.     

Crystalline behaviors and phase transition during the manufacture of fine denier PA6 fibers

Recently we have successfully produced fine denier PA6 fibers by using additives containing lanthanide compounds. Meanwhile, crystallization and phase transition of PA6 fibers during spinning and drawing processes were investigated. During the spinning process, β phase crystal could be obtained in as-spun PA6 fibers which were produced with relatively high melt draw ratio, while γ phase crystal predominated when the melt draw ratio was relatively low. β phase crystal, whose behaviors are similar with those of γ phase by FT-IR and XRD characterization, could be transformed to α form easily when PA6 fibers are immersed in boiling water. However, γ phase crystal of PA6 remains unchanged in boiling water. Thus, β and γ phase crystals of PA6 can be differentiated by the crystalline behaviors of PA6 fibers after treatment in boiling water. Further experiments demonstrate that the β phase can also be produced during a drawing process where a phase transformation from γ to α occurs. In other words, β phase may act as an intermediate state during the phase transformation.     

不同初始结构间规聚丙烯纤维熔融过程中的结晶转变行为

通过熔融纺丝及随后的热处理制备了具有不同初始结构的间规聚丙烯纤维(sPP).采用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和变温广角X-射线衍射仪详细研究了sPP纤维在升温过程中的结构转变和熔融行为.结果表明,不同初始结构sPP纤维的晶型不同,卷绕纤维和退火处理纤维以Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型晶型为主,牵伸纤维介晶相占优;升高温度导致Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型两种晶型直接熔融,没有出现Ⅱ型向Ⅰ型的晶型转变;初始结构为介晶相的纤维在升温过程中部分介晶相直接转变为Ⅱ型晶型,还有一部分介晶相直接熔融,并在随后的升温过程中,形成Ⅰ型晶型.sPP纤维的多重熔融行为与其初始结构和纤维制备条件密切相关.