Work

Spinodal-Assisted Crystallization in Polymer Melts

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: Recent experiments in some polymer melts quenched below the melting temperature have reported spinodal kinetics in small-angle x-ray scattering before the emergence of a crystalline structure. To explain these observations we propose that the coupling between density and chain conformation induces a liquid-liquid binodal within the equilibrium liquid-crystalline solid coexistence region. A simple phenomenological theory is developed to illustrate this idea, and several experimentally testable consequences are discussed. Shear is shown to enhance the kinetic role of the hidden binodal.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.81.373

Authors: P. D. Olmsted, W. C. K. Poon, T. C. B. McLeish, N. J. Terrill, A. J. Ryan

Institutions: University of Leeds, University of Edinburgh, University of Sheffield

Language: English

Topic: Polymer crystallization and properties

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Nuffield Foundation, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W2138323178

FWCI: 22.89

Cites: 26

Cited by: 395

Related to: 10