Transformation of isotactic polypropylene droplets from the mesophase into the α-phase
Abstract
Abstract The structural transformation of homogeneously nucleated metastable mesophase of polypropylene (PP) particles was investigated in this study. We demonstrated the formation of heterogeneity‐free mesophase by slow cooling of the droplets unlike mesophase formation by quenching of the PP melt, which contained large number of bulk nuclei. Submicron size PP droplets were produced by thermal break up of PP and polystyrene layered film assembly. When cooled from melt, the PP droplets crystallized into mesophase at 44 °C revealing granular morphology. Subsequent heating thermogram of the PP particles showed a broad exotherm, which was attributed to the transformation of mesophase into α‐phase. This transformation was investigated during heating by annealing the PP particles at different temperatures. Annealed PP particles were analyzed by means of thermal, morphological and structural properties measurements. Results revealed a two step process for the transformation process. In the first step, the internal rearrangement of PP chains, as against melting and recrystallization of the mesophase, was observed. Since granular morphology was not affected significantly up to 120 °C, it was suggested that translational and rotational motions of PP helices produced ordered α‐phase. In the second step, increment in grain size distribution was observed, when the droplets were annealed at 140 °C. The results were attributed to enhanced chain mobility and merging of the grain boundaries. Annealing at 160 °C revealed the formation of short lamellar structures. Crystal thickening, melting and recrystallization of α‐phase were suggested at high temperature annealing. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
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The selected non-isothermal crystallization temperatures of iPP in isolated polymer domains are ascribed to the homogeneous nucleation mechanism.
“The selected temperatures are ascribed to the homogeneous nucleation mechanism.”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Langhe, D. S., Hiltner, A., & Baer, E.
- Affiliations
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Baer, Eric
- ORCID
- Baer, Eric
- Venue
- Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-09-08
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- 1672-1682
- ISSN
- 0887-6266 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0488
- OpenAlex
- W2068126409
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Material Dynamics and Properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Block Copolymer Self-Assembly
- Keywords
- isotactic polypropylene, mesophases, alpha phase, droplet crystallization, annealing, grain size distribution, lamellar thickening, melting and recrystallization, submicron particles, granular morphology
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