ISSN:
0032-3888
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Chemical Engineering
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
An investigation was carried out in order to study the effect of prestrain on the subsequent crystallization of a specific copolyester based on lactic and glycolic acid. This polymer, which can be easily quenched into an amorphous glass, has a Tg of 43°C and when in crystalline form has a melting point of 210°C. Using amorphous films, samples were prestrained to various levels at temperatures not far above Tg. In some cases films were immediately quenched at the prestrain level so as to retain the elongation while others were allowed to immediately retract whereby they showed a relatively small degree of permanent Set. Utilizing birefringence, quenched samples whose initial elongation was maintained showed linear behavior with prestrain while those that retracted showed essentially zero birefringence until a prestrain of about 150 percent after which a small degree of positive birefringence resulted. Wide angle x-ray diffraction (WAXS) showed no signs of crystallinity in all cases. These same films were then quickly taken to 150°C and rapidly crystallized. Again, one series of the prestrained samples were in the elongated state during crystallization whereas the second series was unrestrained during crystallization. Using microscopy and small angle light scattering (SALS), the morphological textures of these crystallized films were investigated. In all cases, spherulitic textures were observed of equivalent size up to a value of about 200 percent elongation the spherulite size systematically decreased with the prestrain an increase in clearly showing that prestrain had a pronounced effect upon the nucleation density. Increasing draw rate displayed a similar effect on nucleation density. Since spherulite size was noted to be the same in either series, it indicated that nucleation was induced as a result of the prestrain and remained irrelevant of whether the sample was allowed to relax or not. The morphology above the transitional state was similar to row structure common to polymers crystallized in the oriented state. WAXS and birefringence was applied to the crystallized materials and it was found that up until the transitional zone, no crystal orientation was observed in either series indicating that although nucleation density was strongly affected up until that point, no orientation was retained within the sample upon crystallization. A simplified model is used to explain the observed results.
Additional Material:
16 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pen.760240506
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