Influence of Molecular Orientation on the Melting Behavior of Poly(phenylene sulfide) Fibers

Abstract

The influence of molecular orientation on the melting behavior of draw-annealed poly(phenylene sulfide) fibers is investigated in the present paper. Tools used to probe the investigation were differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and small angle X-ray diffraction. It is shown that molecular orientation in the crystalline and amorphous regions play a key role in crystal rearrangement during melting. A probable mechanism by which amorphous orientation influences crystal rearrangement is also discussed.