塑料注射成型 常用注塑原料认知 Morphology of solid polymers.docVIP

Morphology of solid polymers Solid polymers differ from ordinary, low molecular weight compounds in the nature of their physical state or morphology. Most polymers simultaneously show the characteristics of both crystalline solids and highly viscous liquids. X-ray and electron diffraction patterns often show the sharp features typical of three-dimensionally ordered, crystalline materials as well as the diffuse features characteristic of liquids. The term crystalline and amorphous are usually used to indicate the ordered and unordered polymer regions, respectively. Different polymers show different degree of crystalline behavior. Although a few polymers may be completely amorphous and a few completely crystalline, most polymers are partially or semi-crystalline in character. The exact nature of polymer crystallinity has been the subject of considerable controversy. The fringed-micelle theory, developed in the 1930’ Figure 1 Fringed-micelle picture Figure 2 Folded-chain picture of polymer crystallinity of polymer crystallinity The folded-chain lamella theory arose in the late 1950’s when polymer single crystals in the form of thin platelets termed lamella were grown from polymer solutions. The diffraction patterns of these single crystals indicate that the polymer molecules fold back and forth on themselves like in an accordion in the process of crystallization (Fig. 2). The theory of chain-folding applies generally to most polymers—not only for solution-grown single crystals, but also for polymers crystallized from the melt. Semi-crystalline polymers are considered by advocates of the folded-chain theory to be chain-folded crystals with varying amounts of defects. The crystallinity of polymers is pictured as being completely similar to that of low molecular weight compounds. The defects in the chain folded crystals may be imperfect folds, irregularities in packing, chain entanglements, loose chain ends, dislocations