scope:

This International Standard specifies two methods for evaluating the melting behaviour of semi-crystalline polymers.

Melting temperatures determined by the different methods usually differ by several kelvins for the reasons explained in the introduction.

Method A: Capillary tube

This method is based on the changes in shape of the polymer. It is applicable to all semi-crystalline polymers and their compounds.

NOTE 1 Method A may also be useful for the evaluation of the softening of non-crystalline solids.

Method B: Polarizing microscope

This method is based on changes in the optical properties of the polymer. It is applicable to polymers containing a birefringent crystalline phase. It may not be suitable for plastics compounds containing pigments and/or other additives which could interfere with the birefringence of the polymeric crystalline zone.

NOTE 2 Another method applicable to semi-crystalline polymers is described in ISO 1 1357-3:1999, Plastics - Differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC) - Part 3: Determination of temperature and enthalpy of melting and crystallization.