Nucleation mechanism and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) containing ionomers

By means of differential scanning calorimetry the influences of AClyn(R) on the crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were investigate d and compared with Surlyn(R). AClyn initiates heterogeneous nucleation aci d substantially increases the crystallization rate of PET while Surlyn diss olves in molten PET and reacts with PET chains, producing ionic chain ends. They subsequently associate into ionic clusters which, eventually, act as the true nucleation species. AClyn is more effective to accelerate nucleati on than Surlyn. Crystallization kinetics analysis by the Avrami equation in dicates that an athermal nucleation seems to occur in the case of both ACly n and Surlyn.