Crystallinity determination by x-ray diffraction

The value for the heat of fusion of PPS, extrapolated to a hypothetical 100% crystalline state, is not agreed upon in the literature. Reported values range from approximately 80 J/g (19 cal/g) (36,96,101) to 146 J/g (35 cal/g) (102), with one intermediate value of 105 J/g (25 cal/g) (20). The lower value, 80 J/g, was originally measured by thermal analysis and then correlated with a measure of crystallinity determined by x-ray diffraction (36). The value of 146 J/g was determined independently on uniaxially oriented PPS film samples by thermal analysis, density measurement via density-gradient column, and the use of a calculated density for 100% crystalline PPS to arrive at a heat of fusion for 100% crystalline PPS (102). The value of 105 J/g was obtained by measuring the heats of fusion of well-characterized linear oligomers of PPS and extrapolation to infinite molecular weight. 

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