Mechanical denaturation of high polymers in solutions. XXXIX. Flow‐induced crystallization of high molecular weight syndiotactic‐rich poly(vinyl alcohol)

The crystallization of syndiotactic-rich poly(vinyl alcohol) (s-PVA) with a molecular weight of 6.73 × 105 from aqueous solutions was carried out under Couette flow with or without seed crystals. The crystallization of s-PVA from aqueous solutions occurred below the surface of the solutions even in the presence of seed placed in the solution; whereas, in the case of aqueous s-PVA solutions containing 0.02% octyl alcohol (antifoaming reagent) only the longitudinal growth of seed occurred. The lengths of the fibers obtained were 2.5 to 3.0 cm.