Crystallization kinetics, morphology and spherulite growth in poly(trimethylene terephthalate) modified with bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether

The role of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (BADGE)-a weakly interacting, low molecular weight additive on crystallization kinetics, morphology and spherulite growth of semi-crystalline thermoplastic- poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) is quantitatively evaluated. Blends of PTT with different loadings of BADGE were prepared by melt blending. Weak secondary interactions between BADGE and PTT influenced the crystallization kinetics of PTT. This gives rise to concentration-dependent changes in spherulite morphology, crystallization kinetics and stereochemical conformation of PTT. BADGE behaved as a nucleating agent/plasticizer for PTT depending on its loading and changed the conformational distribution of PTT thereby facilitating chain mobility, along with diffusion and attachment of chain segments to crystal nuclei and growth faces. Crystallization kinetics and glass transition studies were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry, while spherulite growth rate was followed using polarized optical microscope equipped with hot stage, and the microphase structure evaluated using small-angle X-ray scattering studies.