BS EN ISO 3146:2000

Plastics. Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods. | Status: Superseded, Withdrawn

1 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 11357‑3:1999, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 3: Determination of temperature and enthalpy of melting and crystallization.