Effect of short chain branching upon the crystallization of model polyamides-11

In this paper, we study the effect of short (C7) branches on the crystallization behavior of model polyamides-11. The crystallization kinetics of samples with different amounts of branches are followed by differential scanning calorimetry, turbidity, and small angle light scattering measurements under both quiescent and shear-stimulated conditions. It is found that the presence of small amounts of C7-branches (<3 branches per 1000 atoms in the main chain) sensibly slows down the overall crystallization kinetics and the spherulitic linear growth rate. The application of relatively strong shear conditions (up to shear rates of 10 1/s and 60 strain units) does not provide any sensible increase of the crystallization kinetics and any modification of the spherulitic morphology.