IRRADIATION EFFECTS ON AROMATIC POLYMERS .3. CHANGES IN THERMAL-PROPERTIES BY GAMMA-IRRADIATION

The effects of gamma irradiation under vacuum on the thermal properties and crystallization behaviour of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK-a, amorphous; PEEK-c, crystalline) have been investigated by d.s.c. The glass transition temperature for PEEK-a and PEEK-c increased on gamma irradiation, indicating that crosslinking is the main radiation mechanism for PEEK. The heat and temperature of crystallization for PEEK-a slightly changed on irradiation, indicating that the thermal crystallization process was inhibited by crosslinks because of the restriction in chain mobility. The heat and temperature of recrystallization for PEEK-a and PEEK-c on cooling from the molten state also decreased on irradiation and this is good evidence for crosslink formation in the PEEK structure. The disorder in chemical structure caused by crosslinking resulted in a lowering of the heat and temperature of melting. The effect of crystalline domains on the recrystallization behaviour of PEEK-a and PEEK-c was investigated and the effect of irradiation on the isothermal crystallization of PEEK-a and PEEK-c was also studied.