A correlation analysis of isothermal crystallization of long paraffins

The small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) curves for ultralongn-alkanes obtained by Ungar and Keller at different times after reaching the crystallization temperature have been Fourier analysed. The correlation curves so obtained at different temperatures and different annealing times reflect sensitively all those morphological features which are broadly characteristic of the scattering curves. In addition the correlation curves clearly show a transition from a non-integer-fraction length to extended chain structure. Crystalline and amorphous lengths, degree of order and half-widths which characterize kinetics of morphological changes are also reported.