Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(butylenesuccinate)/Thermoplastic Starch Blend

The degradation of thermoplastic starch blend in the presence of commerciala-amylase and unpurified amylase of microbial origin was investigated.The blends consisting of thermoplastic starch and poly(butylene succinate)have potential use in packaging applications thus,it is essential to establish susceptibility to degradation.Molar mass loss,gravimetric weight loss,and molecular structure were evaluated.The changes in the surface were observed with scanning electron microscopy.It was confirmed that there was a significant difference in gravimetric weight loss between the blends degraded in two different solutions.Unpurified enzymes of microbial origin,produced by Rhizopus oryzae cultures decomposed analyzed materials more efficiently than purified commercial ones.Moreover,it was proved that in applied conditions,the molar mass of PBS fraction did not change significantly.

Improving Polylactide Toughness by Plasticizing with Low Molecular Weight Polylactide-Poly(Butylene Succinate)Copolymer

A low-molecular-weight polylactide-poly(butylene succinate)(PLA-PBS)copolymer was synthesized and incorporated into polylactide(PLA)as a novel toughening agent by solvent casting.The copolymer had the same chemical structure and function as PLA and it was used as a plasticizer to PLA.The copolymer was blended with PLA at a weight ratio from 2 to 10 wt%.Phase separation between PLA and PLA-PBS was not observed from their scanning electron microscopy(SEM)images and the crystal structure of PLA almost remained unchanged based on the X-ray diffraction(XRD)measurement.The melt flow index(MFI)of the blends was higher as the amount of PLA-PBS increased,indicating that the block copolymer did improve the mobility of the PLA chains.Moreover,tensile tests revealed that PLA with greater PLA-PBS copolymer exhibited higher elongation at break and it reached the maximum at 8 wt%of PLA-PBS in PLA,which was around 6 times higher than that of pure PLA.Furthermore,the glass transition temperature,measured by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),markedly decreased with an increasing amount of the copolymer as it decreased from 61.2℃ for pure PLA to 41.3℃when it was blended with 10 wt%PLA-PBS copolymer.Therefore,the PLA-PBS copolymer was shown to be a promising plasticizer for fully biobased and toughened PLA.

Construction and evaluation of co-electrospun poly (butylene succinate)/gelatin materials as potential vascular grafts

In this study,a series of poly(butylene succinate)(PBSU)/gelatin composites were prepared by electrospinning.The morphology,physicochemical analysis,biomechanical properties,biocompatibility,and biodegradability of the materials were evaluated.The results showed that the ultimate tensile stress of the vascular PBSU/gelatin grafts at(95/5),(90/10),(85/15),and(80/20)was(4.17±0.54)MPa,(3.81±0.44)MPa,2.94±0.69 MPa and 2.11±0.72 MPa respectively,and the burst pressure was(282.7±22.3)kPa,(295.3±3.9)kPa,(306.8±13.9)kPa and(307.6±9.0)kPa respectively,which met the requirements of tissue-engineered blood vessels.Furthermore,the addition of gelatin improved the hydrophilicity and degradation properties of PBSU,thus enhancing cell adhesion and promoting the inward growth of vascular smooth muscle cells.In summary,the research in this paper provides a useful reference for the preparation and optimization of vascular scaffolds.

Thermal Behavior and Crystal Transition of Biodegradable Poly(butylenes adipate)Revealed by Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy

In the present study,thermal behavior and crystal transition of pure poly(butylene adipate)(PBA)upon heating process were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy.To gain further insight into the thermal behavior alteration and the phase transition of PBA,we performed two-dimensional(2D)correlation analysis.We found thatβ-form PBA crystal undergoes not only the melting process but also crystal transition upon the heating process.

Crystallization and Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Coir Fiber Reinforced Poly(Butylene Succinate)Biocomposites

The crystallization behavior,crystal morphology and form,and viscoelastic behavior of poly(butylene succinate)(PBS)and coir fiber/PBS composites(CPB)were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),polarized optical microscopy(POM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA).The results of DSC measurement show that the crystallization temperature increases with the filling of coir fibers.POM images reveal that the spherulitic size and crystallization behavior of PBS are influenced by the coir fibers in the composites.XRD curves show that the crystal form of pure PBS and CPB are remaining almost identical.In addition,the storage modulus of CPB significantly increases comparing with the pure PBS.This predicted the dimensional stability and improved load-deformation temperature.In conclusion,the addition of coir fibers has a significant effect on the thermal properties of the matrix.

Influencing Factors and Process on <i>in Situ</i>Degradation of Poly(<i>Butylene Succinate</i>) Film by Strain <i>Bionectria ochroleuca</i>BFM-X1 in Soil

This is the first report on the PBS film degraded by any Bionectria ochroleuca fungal strain. The fungal strain BFM-X1 was isolated from an air environment on a vegetable field and was capable of degrading poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). The taxonomic identity of the strain BFM-X1 was confirmed to be Bionectria ochroleuca (showing a 99% similarity to B. ochroleuca in a BLAST search) through an ITS rRNA analysis. The bio-degradation of the PBS film by strain BFM-X1 was studied. Approximately 97.9% of the PBS film was degraded after strain BFM-X1 was inoculated at 28?C for 14 days. The degradation efficiency of BFM-X1 against PBS film under different soil environmental conditions was characterized. The results indicated that 62.78% of the PBS film loss was recorded in a 30-d experimental run in a sterile soil environment indoors. On adding strain BFM-X1 to a soil sample, the PBS degradation rate accelerated approximately fivefold. Furthermore, both temperature and humidity influenced the in situ degradation of the PBS by strain BFM-X1, and temperature may be the major regulating factor. The degradation was particularly effective in the warm season, with 90% of weight loss occurring in July and August. Scanning electron microscope observations showed surface changes to the film during the degradation process, which suggested that strain BFM-X1preferentially degraded an amorphous part of the film from the surface. These results suggested that the strain B. ochroleuca BFM-X1 was a new resource for degrading PBS film and has high potential in the bioremediation of PBS-plastic-contaminated soil

Nanocellulose: Effect on Thermal, Structural, Molecular Mobility and Rheological Characteristics of Poly(Butylenes Adipate-Co-Butylene Terephthalate) Nanocomposites

The concern with environmental preservation is a very current and relevant topic. Regarding polymers, the search for potentially ecofriendly matters has been the subject of scientific research. In this context, this work aimed to study the effect of adding nanocellulose (nCE) with 1, 3, and 5 wt.% on poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT). Thermal, structural, relaxometric, and rheological assessments were carried out. Quantitative evaluation of PBAT copolymer by high field NMR revealed 56.4 and 43.6 m.% of the butylene adipate and butylene terephthalate segments, respectively. WAXD measurement on the deconvoluted diffraction patterns identified that nCE was a mixing of Cellulose I and Cellulose II polymorph structures. At any composition, nanocellulose interfered with the PBAT crystallisation process. Also, a series of new PBAT crystallographic planes appeared as a function of nanocellulose content. PBAT hydrogen molecular relaxation varied randomly with nanocellulose content and had a strong effect on the hydrogen relaxation. PBAT cold crystallisation and melting temperatures (Tcc and Tm) were almost unchangeable. Although Tcc did not change during polymer solidification from PBAT molten state, the sample’s degree of crystallinity varied with composition through the transcrystallization phenomenon. Nanocomposite thermal stability decreased possibly owing to the catalytic action of sulfonated amorphous cellulose chains. For the sample with 3 wt.% of nanocellulose, the highest values of complex viscosity and storage modulus were achieved.

Enhanced Crystallization of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)by a Self-assembly Nucleating Agent

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)is a promising biodegradable flexible polymer but suffers from slow crystallization rate,making it less attractive for some applications like the injection-molded products in comparison with low-density polyethylene(LDPE).This work aimed to accelerate the crystallization of PBAT by adding a self-assembly nucleating agent octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide(OMBH).PBAT/OMBH composites with various OMBH contents(0 wt%,0.5 wt%,0.7 wt%,1 wt%,2 wt%,3 wt%and 5 wt%)were prepared through melt-mixing.The effect of OMBH on the crystallization behavior,morphologies and mechanical properties of PBAT was investigated.The highest nucleation efficiency value of 59.6%was achieved for PBAT with 0.7 wt%OMBH,much higher than that of 22.7%for PBAT with 0.7 wt%talc.Atomic force microscopy results showed that OMBH formed fine fibers and induced the formation of transcrystalline layers of PBAT.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)combined with two-dimensional correlation spectra suggested that the intermolecular dipole-dipole N—H…O=C interactions but not hydrogen bond between OMBH and PBAT promoted the crystallization of PBAT in the initial period of crystallization.The presence of OMBH did not change the crystal form of PBAT but had positive contribution in enhancing its crystallinity and mechanical properties.This work is essential for preparing PBAT with high crystallization rate,enhancing its potential applications in injection-molded products.

Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Poly(glycolic acid) Films: Effect of Poly(glycolic acid) Crystal on Mechanical and Barrier Properties

Binary biodegradable polymers films, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and poly(glycolic acid)(PGA), were prepared through batch melt mixing to obtain Film Ⅰ and Film Ⅱ under two different processing conditions. PGA crystals played a major role in enhancing the mechanical and barrier properties of the films. For Film Ⅰ, there were initial PGA crystals before the film blowing process, the PGA molecular chain further crystallized, forming the oriented crystallization of PGA. Moreover, the Xcand crystalline size in Film Ⅰ were higher than those in Film Ⅱ. Compared with the different processing methods, Film Ⅰ has excellent mechanical and oxygen barrier properties due to the crystallization and orientation. The tensile strength reached 45.0 MPa, and tear strength exceeded 138.2 kN/m, while the elongation at break was as high as 750% for PBAT/PGA 85/15 in Film Ⅰ. The WVTR, WVP coefficients, and OP coefficients of PBAT/PGA films were decreased obviously with increasing the PGA content both in Film Ⅰ and Film Ⅱ. Moreover, the barrier properties of oxygen in Film Ⅰ were better than that in Film Ⅱ. This work reveals a feasible processing technique by introducing of initial crystallization of PGA to blow PBAT/PGA films with excellent mechanical and barrier properties.

Alkaline earth metal-based minerals/wastes-catalyzed pyrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate)for benzenes-enriched oil production

The pyrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET)/poly(butylene terephthalate)(PBT)catalyzed by five alkaline earth metal-based minerals/wastes,namely calcined dolomite,calcite,magnesite,calcium carbide slag(CCS),and ophicalcitum,was conducted by a pyrolyzer-gas chromatography-mass spectrometer(Py-GC-MS)with the objective of recovering benzenes-enriched oil.Compared with magnesium-based catalysts and pure CaO,the calcium-based catalysts with calcium hydroxide as the main component performed better catalytic effect,which could simultaneously promote the hydrolysis of ester products and the decarboxylation of aromatic acids after hydrolysis.For PET,the addition of solid base catalysts at 600℃promoted the complete degradation of aromatic acids and aryl esters,which accounted for 32.6%and 30.7%of the pyrolysis oil,respectively.The content of benzene in oil increased from 8.8%to 31.7%–78.8%.For PBT,the addition of solid base catalysts at 600℃completely decomposed the aromatic acids,which accounted for 67.1%of the pyrolysis oil,and the content of benzene in oil increased from 12.3%to 34.5%–81.0%.During the deoxygenation of polyester pyrolysis products,increasing temperature was more effective for the decomposition/conversion of acetone and tetrahydrofuran,while increasing the alkalinity of the reaction environment contributed to the rapid decrease in acetaldehyde and aryl ketone contents.

Generation of Tough Poly(glycolic acid)(PGA)/Poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)(PBSA)Films with High Gas Barrier Performance through In situ Nanofibrillation of PBSA under an Elongational Flow Field

Poly(glycolic acid)(PGA)is derived from glycolide obtained by fermenting pineapples or sugarcane,which has excellent gas barrier properties and a small carbon footprint.PGA is a potential substitute for the current aluminum-plastic composite films used in high barrier packaging applications.However,its poor ductility and narrow processing window limit its application in food packaging.Herein,poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)(PBSA)was used to fabricate PGA/PBSA blend films through an in situ fibrillation technique and blown film extrusion.Under the elongational flow field used during the extrusion process,a unique hierarchical structure based on the PBSA nanofibrils and interfacially oriented PGA crystals was obtained.This structure enhances the strength,ductility and gas barrier properties of the PGA/PBSA blend film.In addition,an epoxy chain extender(ADR4468)was used as a compatibilizer to further enhance the interfacial adhesion between PGA and PBSA.70PGA/0.7ADR exhibited a very low oxygen permeability(2.34×10^(-4)Barrer)with significantly high elongating at break(604.4%),tensile strength(47.4 MPa),and transparency,which were superior to those of petroleum-based polymers.Thus,the 70PGA/0.7ADR blown films could satisfy the requirements for most instant foods such as coffee,peanuts,and fresh meat.

Recyclable thermally conductive poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)composites prepared via forced infiltration

With the rapid development of electronic equipment and communication technology,the demand for polymer composites with high thermal conductivity and mechanical properties has increased significantly.However,its nondegradable polymer matrix will inevitably bring more and more serious environmental pollution.Therefore,it is urgent to develop biodegradable thermally conductive polymer composites.In this work,biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-coterephthalate)(PBAT)is used as the matrix material,and vacuum-assisted filtration technology is employed to prepare carbon nanotube(CNT)and cellulose nanocrystal(CNC)networks with high thermal conductivity.Then CNT-CNC/PBAT composites with high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties are prepared by the ultrasonic-assisted forced infiltration method.Both experiment and simulation methods are used to systematically investigate the thermally conductive and dissipation performances of the CNT-CNC/PBAT composites.Above all,a simple alcoholysis reaction is applied to realize the separation of the PBAT matrix and functional fillers without destroying the conductive network skeleton,which makes it possible for the recycling of thermally conductive polymer composites.

Biodegradable Foaming Material of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)/Poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC)

A biodegradable blend foaming material of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)/poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC)was successfully prepared by chemical foaming agent and screw extrusion method.First,PBAT was modified by bis(tert-butyl dioxy isopropyl)benzene(BIBP)for chain extension,and then the extended PBAT(E-PBAT)was foamed with PPC using a twin(single)screw extruder.By analyzing the properties of the blends,we found that Young’s modulus increased from 58.8 MPa of E-PBAT to 244.7 MPa of E-PBAT/PPC 50/50.The viscosity of the polymer has a critical influence on the formation of cells.Compared with neat PBAT(N-PBAT),the viscosity of E-PBAT increased by 3396 Pa·s and E-PBAT/PPC 50/50 increased by 8836 Pa·s.Meanwhile,the dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA)results showed that the storage modulus(E’)at room temperature increased from 538 MPa to 1650 MPa.The various phase morphologies(“sea-island”,“quasi-co-continuous”and“cocontinuous”)and crystallinity of the blends affected the spread velocity of gas and further affected the foaming morphology in E-PBAT/PPC foam.Therefore,through the analysis of phase morphology and foaming mechanism,we concluded that the E-PBAT/PPC 70/30 component has both excellent strength and the best foaming performance.

Degradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) by Stenotrophomonas sp. YCJ1 isolated from farmland soil

In recent years, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) has been widely used. However, PBAT-degrading bacteria have rarely been reported. PBAT-degrading bacteria were isolated from farmland soil and identified. The effects of growth factors on the degradation of PBAT and the lipase activity of PBAT-degrading bacteria were assessed. The degradation mechanism was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Xray diffraction, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that Stenotrophomonas sp. YCJ1 had a significant degrading effect on PBAT. Under certain conditions, the strain could secrete 10.53 U/m L of lipase activity and degrade 10.14 wt.% of PBAT films. The strain secreted lipase to catalyze the degradation of the ester bonds in PBAT, resulting in the production of degradation products such as terephthalic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and adipic acid. Furthermore, the degradation products could participate in the metabolism of YCJ1 as carbon sources to facilitate complete degradation of PBAT, indicating that the strain has potential value for the bioremediation of PBAT in the environment.

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(butylene carbonate-co-spirocyclic carbonate)

Poly(butylene carbonateXPBC) has significantly promising applications as a degradable material in the field of polymers, while its poor thermal performance and low crystallization rate are its main defects. To overcome these shortcomings, a series of poly(butylene carbonate-co-spirocyclic carbonateXPBSC) copolymers were synthesized from diphenyl carbonate, 1,4-butanediol and spiroglycol via two-step polycondensation reactions, using magnesium oxide as a catalyst. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) results indicated that the glass transition temperature(Tg) values of PBSC copolymers were enhanced from -19℃ to 56℃ with rising the spiroacetal moiety content. Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) results showed that the resulting PBSCs have a higher thermal stability than that of poly(butylene carbonate). Wide angle X-ray diflraction(WXRD) patterns were characterized to investigate the crystallization behaviour of PBSCs. Tensile testing demonstrated that copolymerization of spiroacetal moieties into PBC chains imparted PBSC with favourable mechanical performance. Typically, PBSC 30 had a tensile modulus of (1735±430) MPa, a tensile strength of (42±5) MPa and an elongation of 504%±36%.

Synthesis of Branched Poly(butylene succinate):Structure Properties Relationship

一系列 poly 分叉(丁烯 succinate )(PBS ) 也就是与几分叉代理人被综合 trimethylol 丙烷(TMP ) ，苹果酸酸， trimesic 酸，柠檬性的酸和甘油 propoxylate。分叉的聚合物的结构被秒和 1 H-NMR。结晶化上的分叉的代理人结构的效果也被调查并且玩一个重要角色。等温的研究证明甘油 propoxylate 能充当一个起核心作用的代理人。由对比， TMP 的高内容扰乱了链的整齐并且妨碍了 PBS 的结晶化。从非等温的运动学习，甘油 propoxylate 显著地由于分叉的代理人的灵活结构增加了结晶化率，这被发现。一个第二等的成核被观察，甘油 propoxylate 归因于在在主要结晶化形成的雏晶之间包括的非结晶的部分的结晶化。链拓扑学通过 rheological 调查被获得，综合聚合物显示出线性、随机分叉的 PBS 的混合物的典型行为。分支的加入为电影刮改进了 PBS 的 processability 在产生电影的裂缝的申请和模量和压力显著地被增加。

Addition of Thermoplastic Starch(TPS)to Binary Blends of Poly(lactic acid)(PLA)with Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT):Extrusion Compounding,Cast Extrusion and Thermoforming of Home Compostable Materials

Development of home compostable materials based on bioavailable polymers is of high strategic interest as they ensure a significant reduction of the environmental footprint in many production sectors.In this work,the addition of thermoplastic starch to binary PLA/PBAT blends was studied.The compounds were obtained by a reactive extrusion process by means of a co-rotating twin screw extruder.Thermomechanical,physical and chemical characterization tests were carried out to highlight the effectiveness of the material design strategy.The compounds were subsequently reprocessed by cast extrusion and thermoforming in order to obtain products suitable for the storage of hot food.The extruded films and the thermoformed containers were further characterized to highlight their thermo-mechanical,physical and chemical properties.Thermo-rheological,mechanical and physical properties of the material and of the cast film were analyzed thoroughly using combined technique as capillary rheometer,MFI,DSC,VICAT/HDT,XRD,FTIR,UV-Vis,SEM,permeability and,lastly,running preliminary chemical inertness and biodegradation tests.Particular attention was also devoted to the evaluation of the thermo-mechanical resistance of the thermoformed containers,where the PLA/PBAT/TPS blends proved to be very effective,also presenting a high disintegration rate in ambient conditions.

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Morphology and Viscoelastic Properties of Polyamide 6/Poly(butylene terephthalate) Blends

The morphology of polyamide 6/poly(butylene terephthalate)(PA6/PBT, 70/30, W/W) blends filled with pristine Zinc oxide(ZnO) nanoparticles and ZnO surface-modified by γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane(K-ZnO) was investigated. The incorporation of ZnO and K-ZnO by one-step compounding both resulted in a smaller size and narrower distribution of PBT domains and the effect of ZnO was greater than K-ZnO. To reveal the underlying mechanism, two-step compounding in which ZnO or K-ZnO was premixed with PA6 or PBT was conducted and the finest morphology was achieved when mixing PA6 with premixed PBT/ZnO. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) demonstrated that ZnO was distributed in PBT in all cases and K-ZnO was enriched at the interface except when K-ZnO was premixed with PBT. ZnO and K-ZnO caused a deterioration in the melt rheological properties of PBT, which played a dominating role in the morphological changes. In addition, the interfacial localization of K-ZnO enhanced the dynamic rheological properties of PA6/PBT blends substantially.

Dual Effects of Interfacial Interaction and Geometric Constraints on Structural Formation of Poly(butylene terephthalate)Nanorods

When the size of the material is smaller than the size of the molecular chain,new nanostructures can be formed by crystallizing polymers in nanoporous alumina.However,the effect of pore wall and geometric constraints on polymer nanostructures remains unclear.In this study,we demonstrate three new restricted nanostructures{upright-,flat-and tilting-ring}in polybutylene terephthalate(PBT)nanorods prepared from nanoporous alumina.The dual effects of geometrical constraints and interfacial interactions on the formation of PBT nanostructures were investigated for the first time by using X-ray diffraction and Cerius^(2) modeling packages.Under weak constraints,the interaction between pore wall and the PBT rings is dominant and the ring plane tends to be parallel to the pore wall and radiate outward to grow the upright-ring crystals.Surprisingly,in strong 2D confinement,a structural formation reversal occurs and geometrical constraints overpower the effect of pore wall.Rings tend to pile up vertically or obliquely along the long axis of the rod,so the flat-and tilting-ring crystals are predominate in the constrained system.In principle,our study of the nanostructure formation based on the geometrical constraints and the pore wall interfacial effects could provide a new route to manipulate the chain assembly at the nanoscale,further improving the performance of polymer nanomaterial.

Melt Crystallization of Poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate)

Poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate)(PBN)is a crystallizable linear polyester containing a rigid naphthalene unit and flexible methylene spacer in the chemical repeat unit.Polymeric materials made of PBN exhibit excellent anti-abrasion and low friction properties,superior chemical resista nee,and outstanding gas barrier characteristics.Many of the properties rely on the presence of crystals and the formatio n of a semicrystalline morphology.To develop specific crystal structures and morphologies during cooling the melt,precise information about the melt-crystallization process is required.This review article summarizes the current knowledge about the temperature-controlled crystal polymorphism of PBN.At rather low supercooling of the melt,with decreasi ng crystal I izatio n temperature,0'-and a-crystals grow directly from the melt and organize in largely different spherulitic superstructures.Formation of a-crystals at high supercooling may also proceed via intermediate formation of a transient monotropic liquid crystalline structure,then yielding a non-spherulitic semicrystalline morphology.Crystallization of PBN is rather fast since its suppression requires cooling the melt at a rate higher than 6000 K-s_1.For this reason,investigation of the two-step crystallization process at low temperatu res requires application of sophisticated experimental tools.These in elude temperatureresolved X-ray scattering techniques using fast detectors and synchrotron-based X-rays and fast scanning chip calorimetry.Fast scanning chip calorimetry allows freezi ng the transie nt liquid-crystalline structure before its con version into a-crystals,by fast cooling to below its glass transition temperature.Subsequent an alysis using polarized-light optical microscopy reveals its texture and X-ray scatteri ng con firms the smectic arrangement of the mesogens.The combination of a large variety of experimental techniques allows obtaining a complete picture about crystallization of PBN in the entire range of melt-supercoolings down to the glass transition,including quantitative data about the crystallization kinetics,semicrystalline morphologies at the micrometer length scale,as well as nanoscale X-ray structure information.