Polymer Crystallisation and Melting: FSC Analysis Report

This report delves into the analysis of polymer crystallisation and melting, focusing on the application of Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry (FSC). It begins by defining polymers and highlighting their significance across various industries. The report then introduces FSC as a disruptive analytical tool for assessing the thermal capabilities of materials. It examines how Toda, Androsch, and Schick utilized FSC to study polymer crystallisation and melting, processes often considered complex. The paper justifies the use of FSC by emphasizing its ability to heat and cool at rapid rates, making it suitable for polymer processing analysis. The report discusses the challenges associated with polymer crystallisation, particularly temperature-related issues, and how FSC addresses these. It also highlights the advantages of FSC, such as controlled cooling, supercooling capabilities, and the ability to differentiate polymer melting points. The technique considers peak temperature and HRDOT, broadening the temperature range for reliable analysis. The report concludes by summarizing the successful insights provided by the FSC analysis of polymer crystallisation and melting, as presented in the discussed article, while suggesting the inclusion of real-world examples to strengthen the claims.

Running head: POLYMER SCIENCE
POLYMER CRYSTALISATION AND MELTING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1POLYMER SCIENCE
Polymer Crystallisation and Melting
Name of the Student
The most primary definition of the polymer can be stated as the chemical compound
that is developed from repeating an atom or compound. The term polymer itself acts as
evidence to its characteristics as “poly” from the word stands for many while “mer” stands
for the repetition 1. The vitality of the subject is ample because of the prominence it has
shown in different industries and the impact it has had on its subject. It has its application in
all fields starting from the credit cards to parachutes, glasses, cookware, solar cells and
multiple others. The applications of the subject are increasing every day and the reason
associated with it is the major research and scholarly works that are being conducted over it.
One of the field is polymer crystallisation and melting.
The topic that has been pursued by the article in discussion is crystallisation and
melting of polymer by equipping the assistance of the “fast scanning chip calorimetry”. FSC
abbreviation for fast scanning chip calorimetry is a disruptive analytical tool that analysis the
thermal capability of then materials based on calorimetry2. Toda, Androsch and Schick 3 in
their paper attempted to use the technology in discussion to study the crystallisation and
melting process of the polymer. The processes of polymer in discussion is considered as a
very complex process however, with the introduction of the technology, the complexity is
proposed to be reduced. The reviewed paper justified their selection by stating that FSC in its
“non-adiabatic version allows for heating and cooling at rates up to 106 K s-1, covering all
polymer processing relevant rates.” The paper has also discussed the problems that are
1 Shaw, Montgomery T., and William J. MacKnight. Introduction to polymer viscoelasticity. John Wiley &
Sons, 2018.
2 Schick, Christoph, and René Androsch. "Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry." Handbook of Thermal Analysis
and Calorimetry6 (2018): 47-102.
3 Toda, Akihiko, René Androsch, and Christoph Schick. "Insights into polymer crystallization and melting from
fast scanning chip calorimetry." Polymer 91 (2016): 239-263.

2POLYMER SCIENCE
associated with the crystallisation of the polymers and the most prominent of them are the
temperature related as the crystallisation occurs at a temperature higher than 5K while the
melting needs a temperature around 106 K s-1. The requirements of the crystallisation and
melting process is feasible with adoption of the FSC technology. Additionally, the technology
in consideration also offers the advantage of controlled cooling while considering the
convection and conductive losses as part of its non-adiabatic process. The benefit of
supercooling without crystallising the formulation of the crystal is another perk enjoyed by
the use of the FSC for scanning the polymer4. The supercooling has been done in the past
however, the complexity where associated with it and were done and controlled using
homogeneous nucleation.
The authors of the paper in discussion has also stated that due to crystalline defects,
molecular defects, polymer crystals chain folding and other factors the polymers have
different peak melting points in thermal analysis and hence cannot be considered as
straightforward. However, with adoption of the technique in discussion the scenario can be
differentiated in its nature. The technique in consideration takes account of the terms such as
the peak temperature and HRDOT (“heating-rate dependence of the onset temperature”). The
technology in discussion also extends the range of the temperature making it broader and in
the process offering a reliable analysis5. The benefits of superheating the polymer is another
perk that can be offered by the technology in discussion and extends the approach of polymer
analysis. The paper in discussion has also discussed on different aspects of the benefits that
FSC is capable of offering in the analysis of the polymer crystallisation and melting. The
claims made in the paper has been supported by adequate figures, graphs, stats and other
crucial needs to justify its claim that FSC analysis is better than its traditional counterparts.
4 Toda, Akihiko, René Androsch, and Christoph Schick. "Insights into polymer crystallization and melting from
fast scanning chip calorimetry." Polymer 91 (2016): 239-263.
5 Perea, Alexis, Martin Dontigny, and Karim Zaghib. "Safety of solid-state Li metal battery: Solid polymer
versus liquid electrolyte." Journal of Power Sources 359 (2017): 182-185.

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Finally, the report in discussion can be summarised to state that the article by Toda,
Androsch and Schick has been successful in offering an insight in the FSC analysis of
polymer crystallisation and melting and its prominence over its traditional counterparts.
However, real world examples of the use of the FSC would have made the claims more
reliable.

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References:
1. Shaw, Montgomery T., and William J. MacKnight. Introduction to polymer
viscoelasticity. John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
2. Schick, Christoph, and René Androsch. "Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry." Handbook
of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry6 (2018): 47-102.
3. Toda, Akihiko, René Androsch, and Christoph Schick. "Insights into polymer
crystallization and melting from fast scanning chip calorimetry." Polymer 91 (2016):
239-263.
4. Perea, Alexis, Martin Dontigny, and Karim Zaghib. "Safety of solid-state Li metal
battery: Solid polymer versus liquid electrolyte." Journal of Power Sources 359
(2017): 182-185.