The orientation of amorphous chains in spherulites

Abstract

AbstractA theory for amorphous orientation in spherulitic polymers is presented based upon a consideration of conformational changes in the chains, loops, and cilia located between crystalline lamellae within a spherulite which is assumed to undergo an affine deformation. Chain statistics are worked out on the basis of (a) an analytical method involving random walks on a cubic lattice between barriers following a technique proposed by DiMarzio and Rubin and (b) a Monte Carlo computer simulation on a tetrahedral lattice. The latter method is considered more appropriate in view of the chain constraints such that lattice geometry becomes important. Values of the amorphous orientation are calculated as a function of the degree of crystallinity, initial lamellar separation, mole fraction of bonds in amorphous chains of each type, and chain lengths of each type of amorphous chain. It is found that tie chains are the principal contributor to amorphous orientation and the amount increases with increasing fraction and decreasing length of these. Results are compared with measurements of amorphous orientation by the birefringence x‐ray and the infrared dichroism technique. It is concluded that the tie chains must be initially quite highly elongated and that the assumed affineness of spherulite deformation is not closely obeyed.