Polymer, Vol.46, No.9, 2966-2977, 2005
Confined crystallization phenomena in immiscible polymer blends with dispersed micro-and nanometer sized PA6 droplets part 4: polymorphous structure and (meta)-stability of PA6 crystals formed in different temperature regions
The genesis and stability of different PA6 crystalline polymorphs, dispersed as micro- and submicrometer sized droplets inside an amorphous polymer matrix, are discussed over a very broad temperature range. Different PA6 droplet sizes lead to different PA6 crystallization events in a 100 degrees C wide temperature window that extends down to 85 degrees C. Static WAXD and DSC experiments on micrometer sized PA6 droplets indicate the formation of a stable gamma-crystal phase in the region between 175 and 130 degrees C. Sub-micrometer sized PA6 droplets only crystallize at 85 degrees C in the beta-phase. Upon heating above the PA6 glass transition. these crystals progressively increase their perfection and ultimately transform into the alpha-phase around 170 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.