| Abstract: | The melting behavior and the crystallization kinetics of sulfonated poly(butylene isophthalate) random copolymers were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The multiple endotherms, commonly observed in polyesters, were found to be influenced both by composition and crystallization temperature. By applying the Hoffman‐Weeks method, the equilibrium melting temperatures of the copolymers under investigation were obtained. The presence of a crystal‐amorphous interphase was evidenced and its amount was found to increase as the sulfonated unit content was increased. Isothermal melt crystallization kinetics of the sample containing the lowest amount of sulfonated units was analyzed according to the Avrami treatment. The introduction of such units was found to decrease the overall crystallization rate of poly(butylene isophthalate). Values of Avrami's exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of crystallization temperature, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predetermined nuclei and characterized by three‐dimensional spherulitic growth. |
