Melting and Crystallization of Poly(oxyethylene) Mixtures

Abstract

Solid-liquid eutectic phase diagrams of mixtures of poly(oxyethylene) (M.w. 2 000) with hydroxy and methoxy endgroups, crystallizing in extended-chain macroconformation only, with glutaric acid, benzoic acid or 1,2-diphenylethane are given. The composition dependence of the melting temperature can be fitted by the Flory-Huggins equation. Interaction parameters X and interaction energy densities B evaluated from the diluent branch of the phase diagram are consistent with those obtained from the polymer branch provided the calorimetric value of enthalpy of polymer fusion is used in the latter computation. Measurements of small- and wide-angle X-ray scatterings showed a stacked lamellar structure of POE. Below the eutectic melting point, the long period of the polymer is almost independent of the diluent concentration. On raising temperature gradually from this melting point to the melting point of pure polymer, the increasing long period indicates the penetration of the diluent between the lamellae. As follows from SAXS measurements, the crystallinity of poly(oxyethylene) in the mixtures remains unchanged compared to that of the pure polymer.