The X-ray determination of the amounts of the phases in samples of isotactic poly(propylene) quenched from the melt at different cooling rates

A new procedure for the determination of the amounts of phases in samples of isotactic poly(propylene) quenched at different cooling rates from the same melted polymer is described. According to the procedure, all the patterns corresponding to the same quenching series are simultaneously analyzed for the amounts of phases so that reliable phase fractions relative to the different samples of the series are achieved. The analysis of the results points out that for increasing cooling rates above 30°C/s a remarkable increase of the mesomorphic phase settles, mainly at the expense of the α-monoclinic one.