Surface nucleation in the crystallisation of polyethylene droplets.
The division of semi-crystalline polymeric material into small domains is an effective tool for studying crystal nucleation. The scaling behavior of the nucleation rate as a function of domain size can reveal important information about the mechanism responsible for the birth of a crystal nucleus. We have investigated the process of crystal nucleation in a system of dewetted polyethylene droplets. Through the use of a correlation sample analysis, we are able to differentiate between heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation mechanisms in a droplet sample. An analysis of the dependence of the nucleation rate on droplet size reveals that the nucleation probability scales with the surface area of the droplet.
Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
J L
JL
Carvalho
K
K
Dalnoki-Veress
D003460:Crystallization; D008853:Microscopy; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013500:Surface Tension; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D020959:Polyethylene
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