Nonisothermal bulk crystallization of high-density polyethylene via a modified depolarized light microscopy technique: Further analysis

The quiescent nonisothermal bulk crystallization kinetics of high-density polyethylene was investigated with a modified depolarized light microscopy technique, which allowed for studies at average cooling rates of approximately 5-2500 degreesC min(-1). All of the samples crystallized at a pseudoisothermal temperature (i.e., the plateau or crystallization temperature), despite the nonisothermal nature of the cooling conditions. The rate of the crystallization process increased monotonically with increasing the cooling rate and decreasing the crystallization temperature. Moreover, the apparent crystallinity content was a certain decreasing function with the cooling rate. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.