| Abstract: | Data already existing in the literature for the overall crystallization kinetics of a variety of polymers have been analyzed according to different possible nucleation mechanisms. The conclusions reached are similar to those previously deduced from an examination of ata for spherulite growth rates. It is demonstrated that, if allowed a reasonable choice for the equilibrium melting temperature, no unbiased selection of a unique nucleation process can be made. Moreover, a set of universal parameters exists for each of the nucleation and growth processes considered which allows the data for all polymers to be represented by a single straight line. The only quantities that are unique to a given polymer are the equilibriun melting temperature and the activation energy for transport. |
