SOLVENT-INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION OF NYLON-61

The ability of various hydrogen bond-forming solvents to induce crysta llinity in nylon-6I was studied using DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and x-ra y diffraction. Comparison was made with predictions using the solubili ty parameter, which is related to possibilities of interaction formati on. General predicted tendencies agreed with experimental results, in agreement with proposed influence of solvent-polymer interactions in t he solvent-induced crystallization process. FTIR investigation of poly mers treated with methanol and methanol-d shows that polymer segments forming hydrogen bonds with solvent molecules crystallize preferential ly. It is therefore concluded that hydrogen bond exchanges with the so lvent favor chain rearrangements leading to crystallization. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.