Kinetic roughening transition and missing regime transition of melt crystallized polybutene-1 tetragonal phase: growth kinetics analysis

Abstract

The morphology and lateral growth rate of isotactic polybutene-1 (it-PB1) have been investigated for crystallization from the melt over a wide range of crystallization temperatures from 50 to 110°C. The morphology of it-PB1 crystals is a rounded shape at crystallization temperatures lower than 85°C, while lamellar single crystals possess faceted morphology at higher crystallization temperatures. The kinetic roughening transition occurs around 85°C. The nucleation and growth mechanism for crystallization does not work below 85°C, since the growth face is rough. However, the growth rate shows the supercooling dependence derived from the nucleation and growth mechanism. The nucleation theory seems still to work even for rough surface growth. Possible mechanisms for the crystal growth of this polymer are discussed.

Key words： isotactic polybutene-1; tetragonal phase (form Ⅱ); melt crystallization; growth rate; kinetic roughening; morphology

Acknowledgements

The author expresses his sincere thanks to Professor Toda (Hiroshima University), Professor Miyaji (Kyoto University) and Professor Fukao (Ritsumeikan University) for valuable discussions and encouragement.

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