Effect of Curing Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide) on Thermal Properties and Crystalline Morphologies

Sungho Lee, Do-Hwan Kim, Jae-Ha Park, Min Park, Han-Ik Joh, Bon-Cheol Ku

.
Carbon Convergence Materials Research Center, Institute of Advanced Composites Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea.

DOI: 10.4236/aces.2013.32017                

Abstract

Commercial poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) was thermally cured, which resulted in an increase of molecular weight due to cross-linking. Non-isothermal crystallization studies of samples cured for up to 7 days at 250?C showed a monotonous increase of crystallization temperature compared to pure PPS. However, a further increase of curing time decreased the crystallization temperature. The change in the half-crystallization time (t_1/2) was similar to the crystallization temperature. Thus, the cross-linking of PPS affected crystallization behaviors significantly. To a certain extent, crosslinks acted as nucleation agents, but excessive cross-linking hindered the crystallization. Morphologies observed by polarized optical microscopy suggested that thermal curing for as little as 1 day contributed to the spherulitic structure having a smaller size, that was not observed with pure PPS.

Keywords

Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide); Thermal Curing; Non-Isothermal Crystallization; Cross-Linking; Crystalline Morphologies

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	J. K. Fink, “5-Poly(phenylene sulfide),” In: J. K. Fink, Ed., High Performance Polymers, William Andrew Inc., Burlington, 2008, pp. 175-207. doi:10.1016/B978-081551580-7.50006-7
[2]	J. T. Edmond and H. W. Hill Jr., “Production of Polymers from Aromatic Compounds,” US Patent 3354129, 1967.
[3]	L. C. Lopez and G. L. Wilkes, “Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide) —An Overview of an Important Engineering Thermoplastic,” Journal of Macromolecular Science Part C: Polymer Reviews, Vol. 29, No. 1, 1989, pp. 83-151. doi:10.1080/07366578908055165
[4]	H. W. Hill Jr. and D. G. Brady, “High Performance Polymers and Composites,” J. I. Kroschwitz, Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1991, p. 551.
[5]	P. Cebe, “Review of Recent Developments in Poly(phenylene Sulphide),” Polymer & Polymer Composites, Vol. 3, 1995, p. 239.
[6]	H. W. Hill Jr. and D. G. Brady, “Properties, Environmental Stability, and molding Characteristics of Polyphenylene Sulfide,” Polymer Engineering & Science, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1976, pp. 831-835. doi:10.1002/pen.760161211
[7]	D. G. Brady, “The Crystallinity of Poly(phenylene sulfide) and Its Effect on Polymer Properties,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 20, No. 9, 1976, pp. 2541-2551. doi:10.1002/app.1976.070200921
[8]	C. M. Ma, L. Hsiue, W. Wu and W. Liu, “Rheological and Morphological Properties of Thermal-Aged Poly(phenylene Sulfide) Resin,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 39, No. 6, 1990, pp. 1399-1415. doi:10.1002/app.1990.070390615
[9]	C. J. Stacy, “Molecular Weight Distribution of Polyphenylene Sulfide by High Temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 32, No. 3, 1986, pp. 3959-3969. doi:10.1002/app.1986.070320314
[10]	R. T. Hawkins, “Chemistry of the Cure of Poly(p-phenylene Sulfide),” Macromolecules, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1976, pp. 189-194. doi:10.1021/ma60050a001
[11]	T. Inoue and T. Suzuki, “Selective Crosslinking Reaction in Polymer Blends. III. The Effects of the Crosslinking of Dispersed EPDM Particles on the Impact Behavior of PP/EPDM Blends,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 56, No. 9, 1995, pp. 1113-1125. doi:10.1002/app.1995.070560911
[12]	D. G. Brady, “The Crystallinity of Poly(phenylene Sulfide) and Its Effect on Polymer Properties,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 20, No. 9, 1976, pp. 2541-2551. doi:10.1002/app.1976.070200921
[13]	P. Cebe, “Non-Isothermal Crystallization of Poly(ether Etherketone) Aromatic Polymer Composite,” Polymer Composites, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1988, pp. 271-279. doi:10.1002/pc.750090405
[14]	C. R. Herrero and J. L. Acosta, “Effect of Poly(epichlorhydrin) on the Crystallization and Compatibility Behavior of Poly(ethylene oxide)/Polyphosphazene Blends,” Polymer Journal, Vol. 26, 1994, pp. 786-796. doi:10.1295/polymj.26.786