Enthalpic relaxation in semi-crystalline PEEK

The effect of crystallisation on the glass transition temperature and enthalpic relaxation in poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) has been investigated. The increase in glass transition temperature and the activation enthalpy of ageing is explained in terms of the amorphous phase being constrained by the crystallites. The extent of enthalpic relaxation with time has been analysed in terms of the Cowie-Ferguson model and the β value was found to be dependent on both temperature and the crystalline morphology, changes in the co-operativity of the relaxations are used to explain this observation.