Fast Scanning Calorimetry of Semicrystalline Polymers: From Fundamental Research to Industrial Applications

Abstract

The global production of polymer products currently exceeds 400 megatons annually. To ensure effective and environmentally responsible use of this vast resource, optimizing the properties of the products is essential. Achieving this requires precise control over the internal structure of the polymers. Depending on the materials used, polymers can exist in either amorphous or semicrystalline states. Processing is often performed from the melt state, and the cooling rate plays a critical role in determining whether amorphous or semicrystalline products are formed alongside other process parameters such as the pressure and shear rates.