Theory of Cold Crystallization of High Polymers

Abstract

The nonequilibrium limit of random crystallization of linear high polymers is described in this article. Expressions for crystallite size, surface area, crystallinity, and amorphous sequence distribution of crystallizable repeating units in random copolymers after cold crystallization are derived. Melting points and change of crystallinity with temperature in the melting range are discussed. All partially crystallized polymers are found to fall between the two limits of equilibrium and random (or cold) crystallization. For the system poly(ethylene terephthalate-sebacate) enough data (ΔHu, Tmo, crystal structure, and Cp as a function of temperature and composition) are available, so that the cold crystallization limit could be calculated with help of an IBM 650 electronic calculator.