EVIDENCES OF THE CRYSTALLINE MEMORY AND RECRYSTALLIZATION CAPACITY OFBISPHENOL-A POLYCARBONATE

Bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BAPC) was crystallised by exposure to aceto ne vapours for a period of 9 h; it developed a 20% crystallinity accor ding to WAXS measurements. The samples of semi-crystalline BAPC were t hen submitted to a series of thermal treatments including annealing, s elf-nucleation and subsequent isothermal crystallizations. The results showed that the polymer possesses a remarkable crystalline memory and a much faster recrystallization and reorganization capacity (lamellar thickening) than its very low thermal crystallization rate. This pecu liar crystallization behaviour probably stems from its rigid backbone molecular structure.