Abstract
The polymorphisms in poly(hexamethylene terephthalate) (PHT), along with their associated melting and spherulite morphologies, were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and polarized-light microscopy (PLM). The morphology and crystal cells were dependent on the temperature of crystallization when melt-crystallized at low temperatures (90-135°C), PHT showed at least five melting peaks and two re-crystallization peaks upon DSC scanning, and the samples displayed various fractions of both α and β crystals. However, only a single melting peak was obtained in PHT melt-crystallized at 140°C or above, which displayed a single type of β crystal. In addition, two different forms of spherulites were identified in melt-crystallized PHT, with one being a typical Maltese-cross spherulite containing the α crystal, and the other being a dendrite-type packed mainly with the β crystal. This study provides timely evidence for a critical interpretation of the relationship between multiple melting and polymorphisms (unit cells and spherulites) in polymers, including semi-crystalline polyesters.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 942-948 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Macromolecular Rapid Communications |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 May 7 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry