The crystallization of fractions of partially isotactic poly(propylene oxide)

Abstract The crystallization kinetics of fractions of poly(propylene oxide) have been studied dilatometrically and microscopically. The dilatometric results have been successfully analyzed in terms of a model involving an increase in density within the outlines of the spherulites growing with a constant radial rate. Nucleation theory has been adapted to take account of the stereoregular nature of the polymer, and the rate constants from both techniques have been analyzed using values of the thermodynamic melting point and number average isotactic sequence lengths obtained from melting point data for the polymer.