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Determination of the phase transition behavior of thermoplastic polyurethanes from coupled rheology/DSC measurements
Author(s) -
Nichetti Dario,
Grizzuti Nino
Publication year - 2004
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.20148
Subject(s) - materials science , rheology , rheometer , thermoplastic polyurethane , dynamic mechanical analysis , composite material , thermoplastic , differential scanning calorimetry , isothermal process , phase transition , glass transition , phase (matter) , rheometry , thermodynamics , polymer , elastomer , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics
The rich behavior of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) undergoing phase transition is investigated by means of combined rheological and DSC techniques. In particular, the kinetics of micro‐phase transition of a commercial TPU are followed under both isothermal conditions (crystallization from the melt), and constant temperature rate heating ramps (melting). In rheological tests, the time evolution of the storage modulus is monitored by using a strain rate–controlled rheometer. The rheological results are compared with those obtained by more traditional calorimetric techniques (DSC) under the same thermal histories. It is shown that rheological measurements can give additional (and, in some cases, more accurate) information than that obtained from the more classical thermal analysis. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1514–1521, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.