Engineering Commons^™

Simultaneous Birefringence, Small- And Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering To Detect Precursors And Characterize Morphology Development During Flow-Induced Crystallization Of Polymers, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Tim Gough, Florian Meneau, Wim Bras, Fernando Ania, Francisco Jose Balta-Calleja, Julia A. Kornfield

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

An experimental configuration that combines the powerful capabilities of a short-term shearing apparatus with simultaneous optical and X-ray scattering techniques is demonstrated, connecting the earliest events that occur during shear-induced crystallization of a polymer melt with the subsequent kinetics and morphology development. Oriented precursors are at the heart of the great effects that flow can produce on polymer crystallization (strongly enhanced kinetics and formation of highly oriented crystallites), and their creation is highly dependent on material properties and the level of stress applied. The sensitivity of rheo-optics enables the detection of these dilute shear-induced precursors as they form during flow, …