Novel Aspects Related to Nucleation and Growth of Solution Grown Polyethylene Single Crystals

Abstract

Within an intense research study concerning the theme “organization and reorganization of solution grown polyethylene single crystals”, the present part is focused on the nucleation and growth behavior of such crystals. Beside the well-known crystallization behavior, several novel features have been observed. Growth rates and the influence of the actual concentration on the growth rate have been analyzed using the technique of isochronous decoration. The most important results are that the growth rate decreases with decreasing concentration and that in our study the concentration coefficient α is unit and independent of the crystallization temperature. Another feature is that the applied self-seeding temperature, above or below the dissolution temperature of PE in the solvent, determines the final organization of the crystals. Detailed analysis of the crystal fold surfaces using the n-alkane decoration technique has shown that the fold surfaces are regularly organized and have pronounced growth sectors when prepared at low seeding temperatures, but have no order of the fold surface when prepared using seeding temperatures above the dissolution temperature of PE.