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.     

Computer simulation of crystallization kinetics and morphology in fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. I. Two-dimensional case

A body of experimental evidence suggests that reinforcing fibers influence both the crystallization kinetics and morphology of those composite materials that are based on crystallizable thermoplastics. The absence of an analytical model to predict the effect of fibers on crystallization has hindered data analysis. A new approach, using computer simulation of polymer crystallization, makes it possible to study the influence that reinforcing fibers have on the crystallization kinetics and morphology of semicrystalline polymers. Fibers depress the crystallization rate relative to an unreinforced polymer since they constrain spherulitic growth by an impingement mechanism. On the other hand, reinforcing fibers can also enhance crystallization rate by providing added surface nucleation sites. This work describes a two-dimensional simplification of the crystallization process that occurs in bulk materials. It is demonstrated that the relative bulk and fiber nucleation densities, in addition to the fiber fraction, fiber diameter, and spherulitic growth rate control the crystallization kinetics and also the spherulitic and transcrystalline morphologies that develop in reinforced thermoplastic composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Computer simulation of crystallization kinetics and morphology in fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. III. Thermal nucleation

A computer simulation has been used to predict crystallization kinetics and crystalline morphology in composite materials based on thermally nucleated crystallizable matrices. As demonstrated for athermally nucleated composites, the presence of reinforcing fibers increases the complexity of the system. Fibers are shown to have a dual effect on the spherulitic crystallization process. The influence that fibers have depends on the interplay between the enhancing effects that fibers have on nucleation and the depressing effects that fibers have on spherulitic growth. Fibers that do not provide additional nuclei to the system depress the rate of crystallization relative to an unreinforced polymer, while fibers that add nuclei to the system increase the rate of crystallization. The transcrystalline morphologies that develop in thermally nucleated fiber-reinforced polymers are controlled primarily by the relative numbers of bulk and fiber nuclei. The extent of transcrystalline regions can be suppressed either by increasing the rate of bulk nucleation, or by decreasing the rate of fiber nucleation. Finally, the qualitative appearance of the morphology in the transcrystalline region was found to be indicative of the mode of fiber nucleation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly(dithiotriethylene adipate): Melting behavior, crystallization kinetics and morphology

The melting behavior and the crystallization kinetics of poly(dithiotriethylene adipate) (PSSTEA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and hot-stage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, commonly displayed by polyesters, were influenced by the crystallization temperature (T_c) and ascribed to melting and recrystallization processes. Linear and nonlinear theoretical treatments were applied to estimate the equilibrium melting temperature for PSSTEA, using the corrected values of the melting temperature; the nonlinear estimation yielded a higher value by about 15 °C. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed according to the Avrami’s theory. Values of the Avrami’s exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of T_c, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predeterminated nuclei and characterized by three-dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space-filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all T_c’s. The rate of crystallization became lower as T_c increased, as usual at low undercooling, the crystallization process being controlled by nucleation.     

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate)

The crystallization kinetics of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PBS/A) copolyester was investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM), respectively. The Avrami and Ozawa equations were used to analyze the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, respectively. By using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), PBS/A was identified to have the same crystal structure with that of PBS. The spherulitic growth rates of PBS/A measured in isothermal conditions are very well comparable with those measured by nonisothermal procedures (cooling rates ranged from 0.5 to 15 °C/min). The kinetic data were examined with the Hoffman–Lauritzen nucleation theory. The observed spherulites of PBS/A with different shapes and textures strongly depend on the crystallization temperatures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3231–3241, 2005     

Crystallization of poly(tetramethyl-p-silphenylene)-siloxane (TMPS) polymers. Part II

The crystallization kinetics and morphology of poly(tetramethyl-p-silphenylene)siloxane spherulites have been investigated over a temperature range of 25–130°C. The effect of molecular weight on the spherulitic growth rates, ranging from the monomer to molecular weights about 10⁶, is discussed in terms of conventional rate theory. Surface free energies of crystal growth are computed on the basis of a spherulitic model in which the polymer chains are presumed to be incorporated within the lamellar crystallites which are comprised in the spherulites. Mention is made of the change in mechanical properties with molecular weight.     

Crystallization of bisphenol-A polycarbonate induced by organic salts; physical aspects. I. Crystallization rate,melting behavior,and morphology

The presence of organic acid salts in bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) completely modifies the crystallization mechanism, the melting behavior, and the morphology of the polymer. Organic salts are not ordinary nucleating agents for PC since they react with the polymer, producing metal phenoxide chain ends. On reaction, abundant instaneous nucleation is induced. The seeds are likely to be polymer crystalline fragments preexisting in the melt. The phenoxide chain ends significantly increase the growth rate of the crystalline phase. Melting points and enthalpies of fusion are unusually high, suggesting a high degree of crystalline perfection. Thick multilamellar crystals, which are likely to contain chains in extended configuration, are observed by electron microscopy. No trace of spherulitic morphology is found. The chemical instability of PC containing ionic chain ends is also shown to seriously affect the crystallization rate, the maximum degree of crystallinity, and the melting point.     

Crystallization of polydioxolan. III. Microscopy and dilatometric analysis of the crystallization kinetics

Crystallization kinetics has been studied for a polydioxolan (PDOL) sample, over a wide temperature range, by dilatometry and microscopy. The dilatometry results can be analyzed using the Avrami equation. At temperatures higher than 22°C, the crystallization data must be analyzed in two steps: the first part of the curve corresponds to PDOL with a very disordered morphology (Phase I) while the second part of the crystallization curve is related to a spherulitic morphology (Phase II). The passage from the low to the high crystallization temperature region is associated with a change in the Avrami exponent from 3 to 4. The crystal surface free-energy product σσ_e was found to be 18 × 10² erg²/cm⁴, very close to that of polyoxymethylene. The crystallization kinetics was studied by microscopy over the temperature range?18 to 35°C. Growth and nucleation rates were recorded. Two phases are found only at temperatures higher than 22°C. The appearance of Phase II is related to a decrease in the growth rate of the sample. From the growth rates, the crystal surface free-energy product σσ_e was found equal to 17 × 10² erg²/cm⁴. The detailed analysis of the crystallization of the two phases reveals a complicated process which can be divided into four different steps: (a) growth of a disordered phase, Phase I; (b) nucleation of a higher birefringence structure; (c) propagation of a high birefringence phase; and (d) spherulitic growth, Phase II. The analysis of PDOL crystallization strongly suggests the presence of a hedrite → oval → spherulite transition: the hedrite formation corresponds to step (a), the oval formation to steps (b) and (c), and the spherulite formation to step (d).     

Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polystyrene. I. Spherulitic growth rate

The spherulitic growth rate of isotactic polystyrene has been measured in a wide range of temperature by means of a polarizing microscope provided with a hot stage. It was possible to fit the experimental data to theory by choosing a value of 75 for the constant C₂ of the WLF equation. The growth rate parameters were compared with those of polyethylene and polychlorotrifluoroethylene. The slowness of crystallization of isotactic polystyrene is mainly a consequence of the lower mobility of the molecules caused by the bulky phenyl groups.     

Poly(thiodiethylene adipate): Melting behavior,crystallization kinetics,morphology, and crystal structure

The melting behavior and crystallization kinetics of poly(thiodiethylene adipate) (PSDEA) were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, commonly displayed by polyesters, were influenced by the crystallization temperature (T_c) and ascribed to melting and recrystallization processes. Linear and nonlinear treatments were applied to estimate the equilibrium melting temperature for PSDEA with the corrected values of the melting temperature. The nonlinear estimation yielded a higher value by about 9 °C. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed according to Avrami's treatment. Values of Avrami's exponent close to 3 were obtained, independently of T_c, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predetermined nuclei and characterized by three‐dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space‐filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all T_c's. The rate of crystallization became lower as T_c increased, as usual at a low undercooling, the crystallization process being controlled by nucleation. Moreover, the crystal structure of PSDEA was determined from powder X‐ray diffraction data by full profile fitting. A triclinic unit cell containing two polymer chains arranged parallel to the c axis was found. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 553–566, 2004     

Caracterisation de la texture de films de PVA alcoyle. Par diffusion de la lumiere aux petits angles

Small-angle light scattering studies have been made on films prepared from polyvinylalcohol with octadecylic paraffinic chains grafted on the backbone in a sequential manner. The texture of these films is spherulitic and comparable to that observed in a semi-crystalline polymer. In the dry state, this very stable texture remains imperfect ever after various thermal treatments. The stability and imperfection are probably due to two causes: firstly, crystallizable units are grafted on to the backbone and consequently have a reduced mobility. Secondly, the presence of sequences of ungrafted PVA limits the spherulitic growth. In the presence of water, a tangential dilation of the spherulites is observed, without variation of the mean dimension. The presence of water facilitates the disorganization of the texture as soon as the temperature exceeds the melting point of the paraffins.     

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.     

Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene blended with atactic polystyrene

Crystallization kinetic parameters, such as spherulitic growth rates, nucleation densities, and Avrami-exponents, have been determined by optical microscopy for isotactic polypropylene blended with atactic polystyrene. It is found that the crystallization of iPP is strongly influenced by the presence of polystyrene. With increasing PS concentration in the blend, the nucleation densities decrease, while the spherulitic growth rates as well as the positions of thermal peaks, measured by DSC, remain independent of sample composition. Due to the formation of interfaces as a consequence of increasing dispersion of polystyrene the nucleation changes from preferentially thermal to athermal.     

Transient and athermal effects in the crystallization of polymers. I. Isothermal crystallization

The isothermal crystallization of poly(propylene) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. It was found that the induction time depends on the cooling rate to a constant temperature. The isothermal crystallization of the investigated polymers is a complex process and cannot be adequately described by the simple Avrami equation with time‐independent parameters. The results indicate that crystallization is composed of several nucleation mechanisms. The homogeneous nucleation occurring from thermal fluctuations is preceded by the nucleation on not completely melted crystalline residues that can become stable by an athermal mechanism as well as nucleation on heterogeneities. The nucleation rate depends on time, with the maximum shortly after the start of crystallization attributed to nucleation on crystalline residues (possible athermal nucleation) and on heterogeneities. However, the spherulitic growth rate and the exponent n do not change with the time of crystallization. The time dependence of the crystallization rate corresponds to the changes in the nucleation rate with time. The steady‐state crystallization rate in thermal nucleation is lower than the rate determined in a classical way from the half‐time of crystallization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1835–1849, 2002     

Crystallization and morphology of polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate

The crystallization behavior and morphology of polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate (pCBT) were investigated by thermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The spherulite growth rate was analyzed based on the Hoffman and Lauritzen theory to better understand the crystallization behavior. We found four typical morphologic features of pCBT corresponding to the crystallization temperature spectrum: usual negative spherulite, unusual spherulite, mixed birefringence spherulite coexisting with boundary crystals, and highly disordered spherulitic crystallites. The Avrami crystallization kinetics confirmed the occurrence of combined heterogeneous nucleation accompanied by a change in the spherulitic shape of pCBT, which also agreed with the PLM results. The equilibrium melting temperature and glass transition temperature of pCBT were 257.8 °C and 41.1 °C, respectively. A regime II–III transition occurred at 200.9 °C, which was 10 °C lower than that reported for poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Coinciding with and attributed to the regime transition, the boundary crystal disappeared at temperatures above 200 °C and the morphology changed from the mixed type to highly disordered spherulitic crystallites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1127–1134, 2010     

Crystallization of bisphenol-A polycarbonate. III. Spherulitic growth rate of the plasticized polymer

Measurements of the spherulitic growth rates of bisphenol-A Polycarbonate plasticized with pentaerythritol tetranonanoate (PETN), trimellitic acid tri(n-octyl-n-decyl)ester (TMDO), and tritolyl phosphate (TTP) are reported. The incorporation of a plasticizer enlarges the crystallization range, decreases the temperature of maximum growth rate and accelerates the kinetics to a considerable extent. The growth-rate parameters are calculated from a least-squares analysis of the experimental data according to the kinetic theory of Hoffman and Lauritzen. From the growth-rate data given here and the overall crystallization kinetics reported previously, concentrations of seeds inducing the crystallization were determined.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics and spherulitic morphology of poly(4‐hydroxybutyric acid‐alt‐glycolic acid)

Isothermal crystallization behavior of a new regular polyester constituted by glycolic acid and 4‐hydroxybutyric acid units is studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. A wide range of crystallization conditions were experimentally accessible, allowing various morphological features to be observed and accurate estimates made of characteristic growth parameters, including radial growth and nucleation rates. Three‐dimensional spherulitic growth from heterogeneous nuclei is deduced from the Avrami analysis, whereas optical micrographs reveal two different spherulitic textures that agree with the existence of two crystallization regimes. These can be well distinguished from the breaks observed in the Lauritzen and Hoffman plots when the linear crystal growth rate or the overall crystallization rate is considered. Ringed and nonringed spherulites with negative and positive birefringence, respectively, can be obtained depending on crystallization conditions and regimes. The studied polyester shows rather complex melting behavior which is interpreted in terms of a recrystallization process involving the two different kinds of spherulites. This study allows polymorphism to be discounted. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2640–2653, 2007