Retardation of spherulitic growth rate in the crystallization of isotactic polystyrene due to the presence of nucleant

Abstract

Abstract Although the rate of heterogeneous nucleation of crystallization in isotactic polystyrene, as studied by photomicroscopy, is markedly increased by addition of fine‐particle silica, the rate of subsequent radial growth of spherulites formed is diminished. The latter observation is rationalized on the basis of a modified Hoffman–Lauritzen treatment wherein the nucleant is depicted as a quasicrosslink which impedes the transport of polymer segments.