Controlling the Isothermal Crystallization of Isodimorphic PBS-ran-PCL Random Copolymers by Varying Composition and Supercooling

In this work, we study for the first time, the isothermal crystallization behavior of isodimorphic random poly(butylene succinate)-ran-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolyesters, PBS-ran-PCL, previously synthesized by us. We perform nucleation and spherulitic growth kinetics by polarized light optical micros...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Safari, Maryam, Mugica Iztueta, Miren Agurtzane, Zubitur Soroa, María Manuela, Martínez de Ilarduya, Antxon, Muñoz-Guerra, Sebastián, Müller Sánchez, Alejandro Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/60795
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/60795
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:isodimorphism
random copolymers
crystallization
nucleation
growth rate
Descripción
Sumario:In this work, we study for the first time, the isothermal crystallization behavior of isodimorphic random poly(butylene succinate)-ran-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolyesters, PBS-ran-PCL, previously synthesized by us. We perform nucleation and spherulitic growth kinetics by polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM) and overall isothermal crystallization kinetics by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Selected samples were also studied by real-time wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS). Under isothermal conditions, only the PBS-rich phase or the PCL-rich phase could crystallize as long as the composition was away from the pseudo-eutectic point. In comparison with the parent homopolymers, as comonomer content increased, both PBS-rich and PCL-rich phases nucleated much faster, but their spherulitic growth rates were much slower. Therefore, the overall crystallization kinetics was a strong function of composition and supercooling. The only copolymer with the eutectic composition exhibited a remarkable behavior. By tuning the crystallization temperature, this copolyester could form either a single crystalline phase or both phases, with remarkably different thermal properties.