Crystallization kinetics and morphology of the mesomorphic form of syndiotactic polypropylene

For the first time the kinetics of formation of syndiotactic polypropylene mesophase close to 0 °C through differential scanning calorimetry has been investigated. The calorimetric data have been analyzed through the well‐known Avrami analysis. We have obtained Avrami coefficients less or at most equal to 2, which are likely to indicate a nearly bidimensionality of the crystallites. The morphology of the mesophase, not known up to now, has been examined through atomic force microscopy (AFM): lamellar structures have been observed. The fractal dimension of the AFM images has been evaluated through the box counting method. It resulted about 2, in a very good agreement with the calculated Avrami coefficients. An infrared and diffractometer analysis on samples kept for increasing times at 0 °C has also been performed to confirm the calorimetric data. The experimental results allow one to better clarify the kinetics of mesophase‐formation. It has been found that a time of 3 h at 0 °C is actually necessary for the complete crystallization of the trans‐planar mesophase, a longer time is needed to stabilize the mesophase domains when the sample is extracted from 0 °C at room temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 936–944, 2007