Crystallization behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

For some polymers such as PTFE, the crystallization is so rapid that it is difficult to observe isothermal crystallization by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In this investigation, first, isothermal crystallization kinetics of PTFE was followed by DSC and the results were analyzed by the Avrami method, which showed that PTFE crystallizes one-dimensionally from preexisting nuclei, presumably impurities. Furthermore, the crystallization activation energy, the equilibrium melting point, and the nucleation rate parameter K-g were calculated in the isothermal crystallization. Second, nonisothermal crystallization was also studied and the result was in accordance with the results of isothermal crystallization. Then, the Kissinger method was used to investigate the activation energy of PTFE in the nonisothermal crystallization. Third, the effect of glass fiber (used as filling) was investigated on crystallization of PTFE matrix. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.