| Abstract: | The effects of pressure on the compressibility and crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been investigated. The Instron capillary rheometer was adapted as a high-pressure dilatometer to perform experiments up to 40,000 psi. Compressibilities of solid and molten PET were measured. The increases in compressibility with increase in temperature for the solid state are discussed in terms of free-volume theory. Results obtained for the melt are explained by invoking the second law of thermodynamics and the effect of pressure on the Gibbs free energy. The effects of temperature and compression rate on the pressure of crystallization (Pc) were also studied. As the crystallization temperature was increased from 240 to 286°C, Pc increased by about 16,000 psi. As the compression rate was raised from 1%/min to 8%/min, Pc increased 10,000 psi. At some undetermined compression rate above 8%/min it seemed impossible to induce crystallization in the melt, even with pressures up to 40,000 psi. Analysis of data on the kinetics of crystallization of PET melt under high pressures revealed low Avrami exponents, for which no unequivocal explanation is offered. It is possible, however, that crystallization at high pressure promotes the formation of a morphology made up of a certain percentage of “extended chains.” The alteration in the attendant spatial geometry involved in the crystallization might explain the lower Avrami exponents found. In another set of experiments, crystallization temperatures (Tc) were measured by slowly cooling PET melt under high pressures. As the pressure was raised from 3000 to 15,000 psi, Tc increased from about 246 to 282.5°C. These results are consistent with thermodynamic theory. |
