Polymer Crystallization Kinetics

Polymer crystallization, like many other phase transitions, occurs through a process of nucleation and growth. Although of fundamental importance, the nucleation step is still poorly understood, nevertheless, though major progress has been achieved in the past decade by using novel analytical tools. Herein, we outline the key experimental data and theories that have been developed to explain these data. A brief look at some more recent approaches is also given. The majority of this article considers the growth process itself, concentrating on linear, flexible polymers as this is the area where the most complete data set is available. An outline of the theories that have been developed to explain and predict crystallization kinetics is also given, focusing on their fundamental assumptions and predictions rather than their mathematical intricacies. This article is not intended to be an all-inclusive review on the topic but rather a tutorial style introduction. For the sake of brevity, this article will, therefore, concentrate on areas that are of particular interest to the authors and to principles and observations that have, in the authors’ opinion, the widest applicability.