ISOTHERMAL CRYSTALLIZATION OF PP-G-GMA COPOLYMER

The overall isothermal crystallization kinetics for neat polypropylene and grafted polypropylene systems were investigated. The rate constan ts were corrected assuming the heterogeneous nucleation and three dime nsional growth of polypropylene spherulites. A semiempirical equation for the radial growth rate of polypropylene spherulites was developed as a function of temperature, and was used to determine the number of effective nuclei of different temperatures. The number of nuclei in gr afted samples was estimated to be 10(2)-10(3) times larger than that o f neat polypropylene. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.