Crystalline polymers kinetic nucleation theory

Hikosaka presented a chain sliding diffusion theory and formulated the topological nature in nucleation theory [14,15]. We will define chain sliding diffusion as self-diffusion of a polymer chain molecule along its chain axis in some anisotropic potential field as seen within a nucleus, a crystal or the interface between the crystalline and the isotropic phases . The terminology of diffusion derives from the effect of chain sliding diffusion, which could be successfully formulated as a diffusion coefficient in our kinetic theory. 

The crystalline phase typically grows as spherical aggregates called spherulites. However, other geometries such as disks or rods may be found with, as shown below, a consequent modification of the rate equation. M. Avrami [26] first derived these rate equations in the form used for polymer kinetics for the solidification of metals. The weight of the crystalline phase is calculated as a function of time at constant temperature. As will be described below, the temperature dependence of crystallization can be derived from classical nucleation theory. 

Chapter 1 covers experimental techniques widely used in studies of polymer crystalhzation. Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 are devoted to the structure of crystalline polymers and also to the kinetics of nucleation and growth of the crystaUine phase. Chapter 6 is focused on molecular modeling of polymer crystallization, whereas Chapter 7 describes overah crystalhzation kinetics, with special reference to the theories widely used in practice. Chapter 8 covers the subject of epitaxy. Chapter 9 is dedicated to melting of polymer crystals. Chapter 10, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 describe the crystahization in copolymers, miscible and immiscible polymer blends, and also polymer composites. Chapter 12 is focused on phenomena related to the confinement of polymer chains. Chapter 14 describes the effect of flow on crystahization, and finally Chapter 15 covers the crystalhzation in processing conditions. 

The known theories dealing with the overall crystallization kinetics assume that the conversion of amorphous phase into crystalline phase occurs via radial growth of domains—spherulites—in the case of polymers. They do not apply to crystallization processes that do not occur via nucleation and radial growth of domains. 

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