Crystallization of Poly(Phenylene Sulfide)

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a super engineering plastic with excellent heat resistance, flame retardancy, and wear resistance. PPS is used for sliding materials and ultra-precision materials because of its characteristics. In recent years, materials with higher performance have been demanded. To clarify crystal morphology and crystallization process in the various annealing temperature,  we performed on in-situ small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and conventional/rapid-scanning DSC measurements. 

The PPS sample was provided by Idemitsu Lion Composite Co., Ltd. The conventional DSC measurements and the rapid-scanning DSC measurements were performed using Q-200 (TA Instruments) and Flash DSC-1 (Metler Toledo International Inc.), respectively. Ultra-small-angle X-ray and in-situ Small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements were carried out with BL19B2, SPring-8 at Nishiharima, Japan, and  BL6A, Photon Factory, KEK at Tsukuba. 

We observed two different melting peaks from conventional DSC measurements. The lower melting points were dependent on the annealing temperature, while the higher ones were independent of the annealing temperature. From the results in-situ X-ray scattering measurements, two different crystal states.