| Abstract: | The overall rate of crystallization of isotactic polystyrene from dilute solutions, 1% by weight, in trans-decalin and benzyl alcohol was studied as a function of temperature using dilatometry. These solvents were chosen because the dissolution temperatures of crystalline isotactic polystyrene are practically the same in both solvents. The overall rate of crystallization as a function of crystallization temperature showed a maximum in both solvents at about 50°C. At lower crystallization temperatures the rate of crystallization is much lower. The overall rate of crystallization of isotactic polystyrene in benzyl alcohol is far larger than in trans-decalin at the same undercooling throughout the temperature range, which is in apparent contradiction to present crystallization theories. At very large undercooling (Tc lower than about 0°C) the solutions of isotactic polystyrene in both solvents quickly become “rigid” gels. Surface replicas of freeze-etched gels indicate that a fringed micelle type of crystallization takes place at these low temperatures. The transition from folded chain crystallization to fringed micelle crystallization may be due to a stiffening of the polymer chain below about 50°C, with a reduced rotational mobility of the phenyl groups on the chain. If very dilute solutions, below 0.5% by weight, are crystallized at these low temperatures no gels were formed but fibrous crystals are produced which could be observed under the polarizing microscope. |
