A NEW KINETIC-MODEL FOR POLYMER CRYSTALLIZATION DERIVED BY CALORIMETRIC ANALYSIS

Calorimetric results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to develop a macrokinetic model for the crystallization behavior of semi-crystalline polymeric materials. The model, taking into account the effects of nucleation and crystal growth, is able to describe the kinetics of crystallization in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions, including cold crystallization and melt crystallization. Experimental data obtained in a wide range of thermal conditions for pure PPS film and for PPS matrix composite compare well with theoretical results. Time-temperature-transformation plots constructed from. the model are presented, providing a fundamental tool for understanding the crystallization behavior of semi-crystalline matrices and for determining the most appropriate processing conditions.