CRYSTALLIZATION OF POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE

The properties of molded PPS parts are dependent on the crystalline mo rphology developed during processing. Even though processed under iden tical conditions, the crystalline morphology may differ owing to the d ifferences in the crystallization process. The crystallization behavio ur of a polymer is known to depend on its molecular architecture which in turn depends upon polymerization process. Thus the study of the cr ystallization behaviour of polymer with reference to its molecular arc hitecture is essential for obtaining product with desirable properties . In the present paper, the crystallization behaviour of two grades of polyphenylene sulfide was investigated using differential scanning ca lorimetry (DSC). An attempt has been made to explain the differences i n the crystallization behaviour of PPS samples on the basis of the dif ferences in their molecular architecture. The structural differences o f PPS manifest themselves in terms of the depression in the equilibriu m melting point, retardation of nucleation and overall crystallization rate and coarsening of spherulitic texture.