Crystallization and melting behavior of homogeneous and heterogeneous linear low‐density polyethylene resins

The crystallization behavior of homogeneous and heterogeneous linear low-density polyethylenes (LLDPE) was investigated by evaluating the characteristics of melting traces obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Based on the isothermal experimental results, the concept of the effective nucleation induction time is suggested. In the initial crystallization stage, the Avrami equation in conjunction with the effective induction time can be used to successfully describe the overall crystallization kinetics. Avrami exponents 2, 1.5, and 1 were found to apply in regimes III, II, and IM, respectively, as identified by the modified Hoffman-Lauritzen (MHL) equation. The kinetic parameters estimated from evaluating the linear crystallization behavior during spherulitic growth experiments using polarized light microscopy (PLM) are in agreement with the overall crystallization kinetic parameters obtained from DSC experiments. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1140–1151, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers

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