Resumen de A Laboratory To Demonstrate the Effect of Thermal History on Semicrystalline Polymers Using Rapid Scanning Rate Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Prashanth Badrinarayanan, Michael R. Kessler
A detailed understanding of the effect of thermal history on the thermal properties of semicrystalline polymers is essential for materials scientists and engineers. In this article, we describe a materials science laboratory to demonstrate the effect of parameters such as heating rate and isothermal annealing conditions on the thermal behavior of poly(ethylene terphthalate) (PET) using a rapid heat−cool differential scanning calorimeter (RHC-DSC). The students observe the transformation of semicrystalline PET into an amorphous polymer and the occurrence of multiple melting endotherms upon subjecting the polymer to various thermal conditions. The rapid scanning rates achieved by the RHC-DSC simulate polymer-processing conditions and also facilitate the execution of more experiments in the two-hour laboratory compared to a conventional DSC.
