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Crystallization kinetics of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)
Author(s) -
Chuah Hoe H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.10730
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallization , polyester , crystallinity , ethylene , differential scanning calorimetry , isothermal process , kinetics , polymer chemistry , reaction rate constant , avrami equation , supercooling , chemical engineering , composite material , thermodynamics , crystallization of polymers , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The bulk isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was studied using a differential scanning calorimeter. Avrami's theory was used to analyze the data. Based on crystallinity growth rate, Avrami rate constant, K, and crystallization half‐time, PTT's crystallization rate is between those of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) when compared at the same degree of undercooling. PBT has the highest crystallization rate with K in the order of 10 −2 to 10 −1 min −n . It is about an order of magnitude faster than PTT at 10 −3 to 10 −2 min −n , which in turn is an order of magnitude faster than PET with K of 10 −4 to 10 −2 min −n . Contrary to previous reports (PTT was not included in the study) that aromatic polyesters with odd numbers of methylene units were more difficult to crystallize than the even‐numbered polyesters, PTT did not fit in the prediction and did not follow the odd‐even effect.