Nucleation in Polymer Crystallization and its Relevance to the Morphology of Polyethylene Single Crystals

An atomistic model has been proposed for the two- and three-dimensional nucleation of polymer crystallization. This model emphasizes the restrictions placed on the shape of the nuclei by the long chain nature of the polymer. The experimental observations by Cormia, Price, and Turnbull of the homogeneous nucleation of polyethylene droplets are analyzed using the model, and it is found that the end surface energy σe=96.4 erg/cm2. It is also shown that the model for two-dimensional surface nucleation explains the temperature dependence of the morphology of polyethylene single crystals grown from dilute solutions in xylene and octane.