Effects of plasticizer on structures, non-isothermal crystallization, and rheological properties of polyarylates

Abstract

We herein report the effects of plasticizer content (1-5 wt %) on the structure, non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, thermal stability, and rheological property of a new type of multicomponent polyarylate (PAR). Fourier transform infrared spectra reveal the presence of a specific interaction between plasticizer and PAR chains, indicating the good dispersion of the plasticizer at the molecular level. The plasticizer influences on the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the PAR in two different ways: a mobility enhancer of PAR chains and an impurity to the crystallization of PAR. The melt-crystallization temperature (T-mc) and enthalpy (H-mc) of the plasticized PARs at cooling runs are higher than those of the neat PAR, which is owing to the enhanced mobility of PAR chains by the plasticizer. On the other hand, the non-isothermal crystallization rates at different cooling rates of 5-40 degrees C/min are slower for the PARs with higher plasticizer contents, which is due to the impurity effect of the plasticizer on the melt-crystallization of PARs. Although the PARs with 1-5 wt % plasticizer have lowered thermal decomposition temperatures, compared to the neat PAR, they are thermally stable up to approximate to 400 degrees C. The complex melt viscosity of PAR with only 1 wt % plasticizer is far lower than that of the neat PAR. Overall, it is found that only 1 wt % plasticizer is quite effective to facilitate the melt-processibility and to increase the crystallinity of PAR. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45704.