Insights into strain-induced solid mesophases in melt-spun polymer fibers. (16th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perret, Edith; Hufenus, Rudolf
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 229(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08-16
• Subjects: Mesophase -- Wide-angle x-ray diffraction -- Melt-spun fibers -- Quantification; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: This article provides an overview of strain-induced solid mesophases in polymer fibers, melt-spun from amorphous (polycarbonate, cyclo-olefin polymer, copolyamide, polyethylene terephthalate glycol) and semi-crystalline materials (polyethylene terephthalate, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate). The discussed mesophases are made of stretched, conformationally disordered macromolecules that are highly oriented along the fiber axis, and that reveal variations in their lateral spacing. Fitting algorithms for respective wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) patterns are put forward, and are directly tested on fibers melt-drawn from amorphous as well as semi-crystalline polymers. Equatorial, meridional, off-axis and azimuthal profiles are extracted from WAXD patterns and are simultaneously fitted. Best fit parameters contain detailed structural information, and lead to simulated 2D WAXD patterns, which in turn can be used to quantify the phases that are present in the fibers. We postulate that mesophases, which lead to broad equatorial reflections in WAXD patterns, can be found in all types of drawn melt-spun polymer fibers. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Strain-induced solid mesophases in polymer fibers, melt-spun from amorphous materials. Strain-induced solid mesophases in polymer fibers, melt-spun from semi-crystalline materials. Quantification of mesophase, amorphous and crystalline phase in polymer fibers. Novel fitting algorithms of 2D WAXD patterns from polymer fibers. Detailed structural information extracted from 2D WAXD patterns.