The enthalpy of fusion and degree of crystallinity of polymers as measured by DSC

Crystalline polymers are not in thermal equilibrium and thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy of fusion as determined by differential scanning calorimetry from the area under the melting endotherm over a wide temperature range have not been measured under equilibrium conditions. Accordingly measurements of the degree of crystallinity based on the enthalpy of fusion reflect experimental conditions, are incorrect in that they do not usually agree with those determined by other analytical procedures, such as density and WAX scattering, particularly when measured at ambient temperatures. While this has been repeatedly pointed out procedures used to determine the fractional crystallinity of polymers based on the enthalpy of fusion continue to be widely used. Using the First Law method, the enthalpy of fusion and fractional crystallinity have been measured as a function of temperature for metallocene polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate during heating. The crystallinity measured on the sample prior to heating is in good agreement with that determined by density and wide angle X-ray diffraction.