Cavitation during isothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene

Abstract

Cavitation during isothermal crystallization of thin films of isotactic polypropylene was investigated systematically by light microscopy. Cavitation results from the negative pressure buildup due to density change during crystallization in the pockets of melts occluded by impinging spherulites. The morphology of such areas was also studied by SEM. The value of the negative pressure at the moment of cavitation was calculated from the drop of the spherulite growth rate. It was shown that the process of cavitation and the value of the negative pressure causing cavitation depend on the crystallization temperature. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 2439–2448, 2001