Analysis of the Thermo-Structural Behavior of Polyethylene Using Simultaneous DSC/XRD

Over the past 25 years, numerous studies of polymers utilizing both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been reported in the literature. These studies have suffered because the two techniques must be performed on separate samples and under conditions that are often dissimilar. By combining the two techniques into one instrument, typical problems encountered with variations in sample preparation and thermal and atmospheric environment are eliminated. This is quite important in the study of polymers since one must match not only temperatures between the two techniques, but also heating rates as well. Matched thermal conditions are necessary because polymer properties such as crystallinity and crystallite size depend on both the temperature and thermal history of the sample under study.