WAXS in-situ study of R-BAPB polyetherimid double-melting behavior

Reactor particles of nascent polyetherimid (PI) R-BAPB powder consist of numerous morphological units of the lamellar type, which have semicrystalline structure. Two endo-peaks at 318 °C and 340 °C were observed in the DSC thermogram of the PI powder. A unique in-situ thermo-WAXS experiment showed no significant difference in X-ray peak profiles when the sample was heated from room temperature up to 330 °C, (the valley between the low- and high-temperature endo-peaks). At that point the WAXS reflections became sharper and much better resolved without a visible crystal cell transformation. It was revealed that the degree of crystallinity dropped near 330 °C and continued decreasing until the complete melting of the sample. The low-temperature endo-peak is associated with melting of numerous small crystallites leading to the sharp amorphization of the sample and to a significant increase in the apparent crystallite size at 330 °C. The high-temperature endo-peak can then be attributed to melting of the larger crystallites formed from the melt during isothermal crystallization at 330 °C. Using WAXS profiles, it was also possible to evaluate the volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion of the crystalline part of the studied polymer as CTEvol = 3.8·10−4 K−1. •The polyetherimid R-BAPB reactor powder consisting of lamellar morphological units shows double melting behavior when heated.•In-situ thermo-WAXS test reveals possible changes in the crystalline structure of the R-BAPB powder at elevated temperatures.•No crystal cell transformation has been found on heating up to the sample melting.•The volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion of the polymer crystalline part is estimated.