Miscible binary blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ether sulphone). Part 1. crystallization kinetics, morphology and thermal behavior

The isothermal crystallization kinetics, semi-crystalline morphology and th ermal behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in miscible binary blends with an amorphous component, poly(ether sulphone) (PES), were investigated belo w LCST by means of optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry an d small angle X-ray scattering. Addition of PES to PEO reduces both the ove rall crystallization rate and the spherulite growth rate of PEG. The change of the nucleation regime and an Avrami analysis of the crystallization kin etics are discussed. The double melting behavior of PEO in blends with PES is attributed to both secondary crystallization and recrystallization durin g heating. A change in the supermolecular structure from intermediate spher ulite-hedrite to spherulite appears on blending PEO with PES. The segregati on behavior of amorphous PES during crystallization of PEO is investigated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.