Chapter 1
Chapter 2
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Classical Nucleation Theory
2.3 Precursors
2.4 Spinodal vs. Binodal Phase Separation
2.5 Computer Simulations of the Early Stages of Particle Formation and Crystallization
2.6 Control of Crystallization by Additives
2.7 Ostwald’s Rule of Stages
2.8 Ostwald Ripening vs. Secondary Crystallization
2.9 Discussion
References
Chapter 3
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Experimental Section
3.2.1 Materials
3.2.2 High Pressure Cell
3.2.3 Polarising Optical Microscopy
3.2.4 Wide Angle X-ray Scattering
3.3 Results and Discussion
3.3.1 Polyethylene –A Summary of Previously Reported Results on Crystallisation of Single Crystals in Polyethylene Melts
3.3.2 Experimental Observations on a Crystal after Its Transformation from the Metastable Hexagonal Phase into the Thermodynamically Stable Orthorhombic Phase Temperature
3.3.3 Multilayering: Primary and Secondary Thickening
3.3.4 Size Influence in Phase Transformation: Stable, Metastable and Transient States of a Phase
3.3.5 Implications to Crystallisation at Atmospheric Pressure
3.3.6 An Application of Enhanced Chain Mobility in the Transient Phase of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
3.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 4
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Experimental
4.2.1 Sample Characteristics and Preparation
4.2.2 SAXS Measurements
4.3 Results
4.4 Discussion
References
Chapter 5
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Principle of Diamagnetic Alignment
5.3 Mesophase Detected by Magnetic Alignment
5.4 Molten States
5.5 Magneto-Clapeyron
5.6 Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 6
6.1 Background
6.2 The Use of AFM to Follow Crystallization
6.2.1 Sample Preparation
6.3 Results and Discussion
6.3.1 The Crystal Melt Interface
6.3.2 On the Surface Texture of Polyethylene Lamellae
6.3.3 The Melting of Isolated Lamellae
6.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 7
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Studies of Polymers in Tapping Mode
7.2.1 Tip-Sample Forces
7.2.2 Image Resolution
7.2.3 Sample Preparation
7.3 Practical Examples of Imaging of Semi-crystalline Polymers at Variable Temperature
7.3.1 Flexible Chain Polymers
7.3.1.1 Solution Grown Single Crystals of Polyethylene, PE
7.3.1.2 Melt-Crystallized Polyolefins: HDPE, LDPE, Isotactic and Syndiotactic Polypropylene
7.3.2 Semi-rigid Chain Polymers
7.3.2.1 Poly(Ether Ether Ketone), PEEK, and Its Blends with Poly (Ether Imide), PEI
7.3.2.2 Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate), PET
7.3.2.3 Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate), PTT
7.3.2.4 Syndiotactic Polystyrene, sPS
7.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 8
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Experimental Section
8.2.1 Polymers
8.2.2 Sample Preparation
8.2.3 Observation Techniques
8.3 Results and Discussion
8.3.1 Crystallization of Adsorbed PEO Homopolymer Monolayers
8.3.2 Relaxations of Polymer Crystals AFTER Formation
8.3.3 Discrete Variation of Lamellar Spacings with Temperature in Block Copolymer Systems
8.3.4 Individual Crystallization and Melting of Polymer Nanocrystals
8.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 9
9.1 Introduction
9.2 A Lattice Model for Crystallization in Polymer Monolayers
9.3 Growth Morphologies
9.4 Self-organized Crystal Thickness and Growth Velocity
9.5 Reorganization of the Polymer Crystal
9.6 Annealing and Morphogenesis – The “Crystalline Liquid State”
9.7 Heating with a Constant Rate and the Role of Morphogenesis
9.8 Conclusions
References
Chapter 10
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 The Model CG-PVA: Excluded Volume, Connectivity and Rotational Isomeric States
10.1.2 Simulation Details
10.2 Structure Formation in a Melt of Short Chains
10.2.1 Homogeneous Nucleation
10.2.2 Positional, Orientational and Conformational Order
10.3 Chain-Length Dependence of Crystallization and Melting Temperatures
10.4 Chain-Folding in Isothermal Relaxation of Long Chains
10.4.1 Slightly Entangled Chains( N = 100)
10.4.2 Entangled Chains( N = 400)
10.5 Discussion and Conclusions
References
Chapter 11
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Experimental Situation
11.3 Discussion and Modelling
11.4 Conclusions and Open Questions
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 12
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Immiscible Blends: Fractionated Crystallization
12.3 Blends with Miscibility Gap: Interface Crossing Crystallization
12.4 Miscible Crystallizing Blends: Pseudoeutectic Behaviour
12.5 Miscible Blends: Crystallization Induced Composition Inhomogeneities
12.6 Miscible Blends: Competition Between Crystallization and Vitrification
12.7 Blends with Miscibility Gap: Competition Between Crystallization and Mixing/Demixing
12.8 Picture Gallery
12.9 Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 13
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Creation of Defined Micrometersized Patterns by Chemical Surface Heterogenisation
13.3 Preparation of Ultrathin Micropatterned Amorphous Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) Layers by Controlled Dewetting on Heterogeneous Surfaces
13.4 Characteristic Growth Patterns of PEO Lamellae on Micropatterned Surface Areas
13.4.1 Basic Ideas on Diffusion Controlled Crystallisation
13.4.2 Branching Structures of PEO Crystallised in Ultrathin Micro-patterned Films
13.4.3 Crystallisation of PEOin Microdroplets Obtained by Dewetting on Heterogeneous Surfaces
13.5 Summary
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 14
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Determination of the Rigid Amorphous Fraction
14.3 Experimental
14.4 Results
14.5 Discussion
14.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 15
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Brief Description of Dielectric Spectroscopy
15.3 Influence of Crystallinity on the Segmental Relaxation
15.4 Influence of Crystallinity on the Segmental Cooperativity
15.5 Crystallization as Revealed by the Time Evolution of the Crystalline and the Amorphous Phases
15.5.1 Lamellar Structure Formation
15.5.2 Crystallization Induced Effects in the Amorphous Phase
15.5.3 Combined Picture About Crystallization from the Structure-Dynamics Relationships
15.6 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Chapter 16
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Kinetic Analysis
16.3 Specific Surface Energy
16.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 17
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Modelling
17.2.1 Balance Equations
17.2.2 Constitutive Equations
17.3 Results
17.4 Conclusions
Chapter 18
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) of PET
18.3 Physical Cross Links vs Entanglements
18.4 Sample Preparation and Test Procedure
18.5 Isothermal Crystallization of Glassy PET
18.6 Rejuvenation Procedure
18.7 Results
18.8 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 19
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Test of WLF and Arrhenius Expressions
19.3 Master Curve for Crystal Growth Rate
19.4 Molecular Weight Dependence of Crystal Growth Rate
19.4.1 Effect of Super Cooling on the Molecular Weight Dependence of Growth Rate
19.4.2 Molecular Weight Dependence of Maximum Crystal Growth Rate
19.5 Relationship Between T^o_m and T_cmax
19.5.1 Ratio of Delta E and Delta H_m
19.5.2 Ratio of ar{sigma} and H_m
19.6 Relationship Among Thermodynamic Transition Temperatures
19.7 Conclusions
References
Chapter 20
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Preliminary Analysis
20.3 Thermodynamic Viewpoint
20.4 Lattice Model
20.5 SAXS Analysis
20.6 Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 21
A: How Does Polymer Crystallization Start?
B: How Do Polymer Crystals Grow?
C: What Happens to the Metastable Polymer Crystals AFTERThey Have Been Grown?