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     

Probing the use of small‐angle light scattering for characterizing structure of titanium dioxide/low‐density polyethylene nanocomposites

Small‐angle light scattering (SALS) measurements were used to study the structure of titanium dioxide (TiO₂)/low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites. The results showed that the scattering from LDPE crystalline structures and the scattering from TiO₂ nanoparticles can be resolved and separated. It is shown that the independent effects of crystallization conditions and the presence of nanoparticle aggregates on the spherulitic structure of the LDPE matrix can be determined by analyzing the scattering patterns using the methods proposed. From the SALS results, we conclude that the nanoparticle surface chemistry affects both nucleation of spherulites and their structure particularly under rapid cooling conditions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1084–1095, 2006     

ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY STUDIES OF POLYCAPROLACTONE RINGED SPHERULITES*

The surface morphology of free-surface PCL ringed spherulites was investigated by using atomic forcemicroscopy. The spherulites were obtained by crystallization of PCL/PVC blends of different compositions. It was found thatthe ringed spherulite exhibited regularly fluctuating rings on its surface. Compared with the bright-dark ring pattern of thespherulite under a polarizing microscope, it was proved that the optical characteristics of the ringed spherulite underpolarizing microscope coincided with its surface characteristics. The bright rings in polarizing micrographs of the spherulite coincided with the convex rings on its surface, while the dark rings coincided with the concave rings.     

PEO-LiClO_4-ZSM5 composite polymer electrolyte (IV): Polarized optical microscopy study

All solid-state lithium polymer batteries may be one of the best choices for the future electrochemical power source, characterized by high energy densities, good cyclability, reliability and safety[1,2]. Owing to its potential capability to replace the t…     

MECHANICAL PERTURBATION INDUCED MOLECULAR ALIGNMENTS IN A SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYACETYLENE, POLY{10-[4-(4''-METHOXYPHENOXY-CARBOML)PHENOXYCARBONYL]-1-DECYNE}*

A new liquid crystalline polyacetylene containing a phenyl benzoate mesogen (5) is synthesized,whose mesomorphic properties are found to be easily "tunab1e" by simple mechanical perturbation. Thepolymerization of 10- [ 4 - (4' -methoxyphenoxycarbonyl )phenoxycarbonyl] - 1 -decyne (4 ) in itiated by theWCl_6-Ph_4Sn/dioxane complex yields polymer 5 with a M_w of 28400. The molecular structure of 5 ischaracterized by NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy and its liquid crystalline behavior is investigated by DSC,POM, and XRD analysis. Upon mechanical perturbation, 5 exhibits unusual agitation-induced high-strengthdisclinations, shear-induced inversion walls, and solidification-induced banded textures. Such phenomenahave been observed in the main-chain liquid crystalline polymers with rigid backbones, but have seldom beenreported for the side-chain liquid crystalline polymers with flexible backbones, suggesting that the rigidpolyacetylene backbone of 5 plays a constructive role in inducing the novel molecular alignments.     

聚己内酯/硝基纤维素共混体系结晶行为的研究

通过对聚己内酯／硝基纤维素共混体系的热分析、傅立叶变换红外光谱的研究，证实了该共混体系在聚己内酯含量较高时，是一个热力学相容的体系，同时两组分之间存在强的氢键相互作用。在此体系中聚己内酯长成了清晰规整的环带球晶。聚己内酯结晶形态随结晶温度和共混物组成的变化表明，在共混体系中聚己内酯结晶速率与非晶第二组分的扩散速率存在一定的匹配关系，是影响环带球晶形成的重要因素。     

MORPHOLOGY OF A THERMOTROPIC AROMATIC POLYESTER

The crystalline morphology of a thermotropic aromatic polyester has been studied by microscopy techniques. Spherulites with ringed structure under polarizing micioscope were observed for solution cast specimens, They were composed of radially growing crystalline lamellae of thickness around 100. It was found that the molecules were packed in the thickness direction. Banded texture was observed in randomly packed domains for melt cast specimens. The bands have the same width and internal structure as those usually observed in oriented specimens of these polymers obtained by shearing their mesomorphic melt.     

BANDED TEXTURE FORMATION IN NEMATIC SOLUTION OF POLY (1,4-BENZAMIDE) IN SULFURIC ACID

The banded texture in films prepared from nematic poly (1,4-benzamide) (PBA)/H_2SO_4 solution by shearing and without shearing has been studied by using microscopy techniques. The kinetic parameters of banded texture formation γ_c and τ_b were measured for nematic solution of PBA by using parallel-plate shearing apparatus. The banded texture was also observed in randomly packed domains for nematic solution of PBA on standing without shearing. The properties of banded texture show no difference between the two samples with or without shearing.     

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.