As far as I understood, in a semi-crystalline polymer system, inclusion of plasticizers usually enhances the kinetics of cold crystallization by providing more heterogeneous nucleation sites. However, if the objective of an experiment is to control and limit the extent of isothermal cold crystallization in a semi-crystalline polymer, would it be possible to do so by inclusion of a plasticizer?
In a more general aspect, what practical approaches could be used to control the extent of isothermal cold crystallization?
As an additional piece of info, I am interested in compromising and reducing the physical integrity of the polymer after isothermal crystallization, for example producing a polymer which can be easily fragmented by exerting a relatively small force.
you can read this paper
Article Influence of plasticizers on thermal properties and crystall...
Abdelkader Dehbi Thank you for your input but I did not find information relevant to my question in the mentioned paper, or maybe I am missing something. To restate my question, I am interested in limiting the extent of isothermal cold crystallization.
Dear Ali Nadernezhad, normally you should specify the polymer. The answer is in the kinetics of crystallization parameters mainly time temperature and time. Other possibilities is quenshing and the use of a mineral nucleating agent. A plasticizer generally is for enhancing the crystallizability by creating additional inter-chains freedom which favor ease of mobility for chains to arrenge themselves in the crystallites and latices or lamellae. My Regards
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10853-005-3173-3#:~:text=The%20results%20showed%20that%20at,decreased%20with%20increasing%20crystallization%20temperature.
Abdelkader BOUAZIZ Thank you for your response. The polymers I am interested in are from polyoxazolines family with small to moderate size of pendant alkyl chain. As you mentioned, indeed time and temperature play a critical role in the kinetics of crystalline phase development and I appreciate the shared article.
As an additional piece of info, I am interested in compromising and reducing the physical integrity of the polymer after isothermal crystallization, for example producing a polymer which can be easily fragmented by exerting a relatively small force.
Now I am wondering if it would be possible to increase the nucleation rate to a degree (for example by increasing the low molecular weight plasticizer content and also avoiding phase separation) that the final crystalline form doesn't have long range integrity, e.g. formation of too many isolated spherulites.
It would be great to have your feedback regarding this case as well.
Dear Ali Nadernezhad, the following paper deals with a comprehensive understanding of the effect of side alkyl chain length on the crystallization behavior of polyoxazolines. The effect of a plasticizer may be regarder as a similar way to that of a side group. My Regards
https://doi.org/10.1002/polb.23967
Dear Ali Nadernezhad , one easy way to play with polymers, is to inject CO2 supercritical state and observe how fast it crystallizes and at which temperature, because the gas act like a plasticizer
Cristo Bou Thanks for the input, I had no idea about this method and it would be nice of you to refer me to a paper or technical note to continue reading.
you can read this paper
Article Synergistic Effects of Nucleating Agents and Plasticizers on...
Abdelkader Dehbi Thank you very much, I appreciate your contribution.
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