Crystallization of poly(phenylenesulfide)/amorphous polyamide blends: DSC and microscopic studies

Poly(phenylenesulfide) (PPS) is a high-performance engineering thermoplasti c with exceptional thermal and chemical resistance. The results of crystall ization behavior of blends of PPS with amorphous polyamide (PA) are present ed. The melting and crystallization behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the crystalline morphology was studied usi ng optical microscopy. The results of thermal analysis indicate that the bl ends exhibit composition-dependent melting point depression. Optical micros copy studies showed the uniform distribution of amorphous nylon in PPS sphe rulites. The presence of amorphous nylon enhanced the growth rate compared to that for the neat polymer. The observed changes in the equilibrium melti ng point, crystallization behavior, and spherulitic growth rate are explain ed.