Enhanced Characterization of PA6 Crystallization Using MEMS DSC Integrated with in Situ Ftir Spectroscopy

This work presents a novel method that combines a MEMS differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization chip with in situ Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, addressing the limitations of using a single technique to study the crystallization behavior of Polyamide 6 (PA6). We developed a highly sensitive single-crystal silicon thermopile calorimetric chip with a power responsivity of 149.3 V/W-seven times greater than the state-of-the-art commercial-available MEMS DSC system (20 V/W). It also has a cooling time constant of 2.4 milliseconds, which is one-sixth that of commercial systems (12 milliseconds). These advancements enhance the sensitivity and speed of DSC characterization. The combination of in situ FTIR spectroscopy allows for real-time monitoring of structural changes during crystallization. Our technique reveals the hot and cold crystallization processes in PA6 and defines the specific conditions for each process, providing valuable insights for controlling PA6 crystallization during processing.