MORPHOLOGY, CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS AND MELTING BEHAVIOR OF THE BLENDS OF POLY(ETHER ETHER KETONE) WITH POLY(ETHER SULFONE WITH CARDO SIDE-GROUP)

The morphology, crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of the blends of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with poly(ether sulfone with cardo side group) (PES-C) prepared by casting from solution were studied using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. The amorphous PES-C was shown to be trapped interfibrillarly or interlamellarly in the spherulites of PEEK at a relatively low crystallization temperature. Its addition causes dilution of the nuclei in PEEK and a great depression in the spherulitic growth rate and overall crystallization rate of PEEK. Also, melting point and crystallinity of PEEK are lowered by PES-C. Besides composition, crystallization temperature was shown to have an influence on the morphology, crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of the blends.