Crystallization, morphology, and thermal behavior of poly(p-phenylene sulfide)

This article deals with the structure, crystallization, morphology, and the rmal behavior of poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) with low-molecular mass, p robed by DSC, optical, and electron microscopy. The growth rates of spherul ites were measured over the temperature range 235-275 degreesC. A regime II -III transition was found at T = 250 degreesC. The regime transition was ac companied by a morphological change from sheaflike structure to classical s pherulites. The Avrami equation poorly described the isothermal crystalliza tion of PPS, for the occurrence of mixed growth mechanisms and secondary cr ystallization, in agreement with the morphology and the thermal behavior. T wo melting peaks were detected on DSC curves and attributed to the melting of crystals formed isothermally at T-c by primary and secondary crystalliza tion. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.