Crystallization and melting behaviour of poly(m-xylene adipamide)

The melting and crystallisation behaviour of poly(m-xylene adipamide) (MXD6) are investigated by using the conventional DSC, X-ray diffraction and polarised light microscopy. Triple, double or single melting endotherms are obtained in subsequent heating scan for the samples after isothermal crystallisation from the melt state at different temperatures. The lowest melting peak can be ascribed to the melting of secondary crystals. The melting of primary crystals causes the medium melting peak and the highest melting peak is attributed to the melting of recrystallised species formed during heating. Following the Hoffman-Weeks theory, the equilibrium melting temperature is equal to 250 degrees C and the equilibrium melting enthalpy Delta H-m(0) to 175 J g(-1). Then, using the Lauritzen-Hoffmann theory of secondary crystallisation, the analyse of the spherulitic growth shows that the temperature of transition between the growing regimes II and III is equal to 176 degrees C. Finally the Gibbs-Thomson relationship allows the determination of the distribution function of crystalline lamellae.