| Abstract: | The thermal behavior of α nylon-12 film cast from a phenol-ethanol mixture has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Polymorphism has been analyzed by x-ray diffraction. The γ form exhibits a single endothermic melting peak in the thermogram, whereas the α form exhibits double peaks. Samples with mixed α and γ forms show double peaks at the same positions and the area ratio changes in accordance with the amounts of the two forms. The appearance of the γ peak, even for the α sample, is explained by recrystallization to the γ form after melting of the α form. The melting point of α nylon-12 is ca. 173°C, which is lower by 6–7° than that of the γ form. Once the α or γ sample has been melted and then cooled, its heating thermogram shows a small peak before the appearance of the main peak. The small peak seems to be due to incomplete and/or smaller crystallites formed during cooling. Heat treatment below the melting point of α nylon-12 is effective in transforming the α form to the γ form, probably via a melt-recrystallization process. |
