The shear-induced crystallization behavior of PET was investigated by measu
ring the time-dependent storage modulus (G') and dynamic viscosity (eta') w
ith a parallel-plate rheometer at different temperatures and shear rate. Th
e morphology of shear-induced crystallized PET was measured by DSC, X-ray,
and polarizing optical microscopy. When a constant shear rate was added to
the molten polymer, the shear stress increased with the time as a result of
the orientation of molecular chains. The induction time of crystallization
is decreased with frequency. Moreover, the rate of isothermal crystallizat
ion of PET was notably decreased with increasing temperature. The shape of
spherulites is changed to ellipsoid in the direction of shear. In addition,
aggregation of spherulites is increased with increasing frequency. Particu
larly, the row nucleation morphology could be observed under polarized ligh
t for omega = 1. From the results of DSC, the melting point and enthalpy ha
ve a tendency to decrease slightly with increasing frequency. The crystalli
te size and perfectness decreased with frequency, which was confirmed with
X-ray data. The unit length of the crystallographic unit cell of the PET in
creased and the ((1) over bar 0 3) plane peak increased with increasing fre
quency. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2640-2646, 20
01.