KINETICS OF CRYSTALLIZATION OF TRANS-1, 4-POLYISOPRENE CRYSTALLIZED IN THIN-FILMS

The lamellar thickness and crystal growth rates of both high melting form and low melting form trans-1,4-polyisoprene crystals growing from the same melt in thin films, have been determined by transmission electron microscopy. Values of the fold surface energy (σe) have been determined and compare well with values for solution grown and bulk melt grown crystals. It is suggested that the crystals have a similar form in all three cases. The crystal growth rate data can be described by equations derived from secondary nucleation theory and the product of the surface energies (σeσs) is calculated. The value of the product is compared with recalculated values determined by using previously published optical growth rate data. © 1979 Chapman and Hall Ltd.