Interrelation of kinetics of crystallization in a mechanical field with the morphology and strength of polychloroprene films

Abstract Crystallization kinetics were studied by a dielectric method in uniaxial elongation from a polar elastomer melt. Curves were plotted to show the temperature dependence of the overall rate of crystallization for various degrees of elongation of chloroprene rubber films (Nairit NP). On changing elongation α from 2 to 5, the Avrami exponent n decreases from 2 to 1. Analysis of results gives an increase in surface energy of crystallites formed with an increase in α. The ratio of temperatures corresponding to maximum rates of crystallization to melting points calculated from the Flory equation is constant for all the elongations studied. An increase in α which results in a variation of morphology and a reduction of n , corresponds to increased tensile strength.