Origins of endothermic peaks in differential scanning calorimetry

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AbstractThe origins of multiple peaks observed by differential scanning calorimetry have been examined in detail for a linear polyethylene fraction crystallized from dilute solution and for bulk‐crystallized copolymers of ethylene. At least two major bases are demonstrated. One is melting–recrystallization; the other a consequence of the distribution of crystallite sizes. The melting–recrystallization process, however, often only yields one endothermic peak. This peak is therefore not characteristic of the original crystallites present. In these situations complementary methods need to be used to determine the melting temperature. We have complemented the calorimetric studies with measurement of the crystallite size distribution as determined from the Raman low frequency acoustical mode spectra. A major increase occurs cooperatively in the crystallite size distribution during the initial melting. Most importantly, we have also been able to make a direct comparison between the interfacial free energies of thin crystallites formed from dilute solution and from bulk‐crystallized linear polyethylene.