CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF BETA-PHASE POLY(PROPYLENE)

Crystal growth rates of spherulites of beta-phase poly(propylene)s and of an ethylene/propene block copolymer, crystallized from the melt, h ave been investigated in the temperature range of 122 to 146-degrees-C . On the basis of the regime theory, a transition between regime II an d III is found at DELTA-T almost-equal-to 37-43,5 K. The nucleation co nstant for beta-phase poly(propylene) based on he current theory of cr ystal growth was determined, and the fold surface free energy of beta- phase poly(propylene) was estimated from the nucleation constant for d ifferent samples to lie between 48,2 and 55,2 erg/cm2 (1 erg = 10(-7) J).