Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.40, No.13, 1354-1362, 2002
Melting behavior, crystallization kinetics, and crystals structure of poly(2-hydroxyethoxybenzoate)
The melting behavior and crystallization kinetics of poly(2-hydroxyethoxybenzoate) (PHEBA) were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and hotstage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, commonly displayed by polyesters, were influenced by the crystallization temperature. By the application of the Hoffman-Weeks method to the melting temperatures of isothermally crystallized samples, a value of 232 degreesC was obtained for the equilibrium melting temperature. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed according to Avrami's treatment. Values of Avrami's exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of the crystallization temperature, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predetermined nuclei and characterized by three-dimensional spherulitic growth. In fact, space-filling banded spherulites were observed by hot-stage optical microscopy at all crystallization temperatures explored, with the band spacing increasing with increasing crystallization temperature. The rate of crystallization became lower as the crystallization temperature increased as usual at low undercooling, with the crystallization process controlled by nucleation. The equilibrium heat of fusion was determined by differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Finally, the crystal phase of PHEBA was investigated with wide-angle X-ray scattering, and a triclinic unit cell was hypothesized.
Keywords:polyesters;poly(2-hydroxyethoxybenzoate);melting behavior;crystallization kinetics;crystalline structure;thermal properties;spherulites