Homogeneous nucleation in polymers and subsequent crystallization in spaces confined relative to spherulitic dimensions in one direction has been simulated for a wide range of nucleation and growth rates. An empirical equation based on simulation results relating an Avrami exponent of crystallization to growth and nucleation rates along with the characteristic dimension of crystallizing volume has been proposed. It was found that for ideal homogeneous crystallization, the Avrami exponent can be significantly lower than the anticipated values for free unconstrained growth; therefore, all crystallization conditions and parameters must be taken into account in order to make a conclusion on the character of the observed crystallization.
