Abstract: | The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of partially melted nylon‐1212 was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Because of partial melting, the pre‐existing crystals changed the crystallization mechanism and had a strong effect on the crystallization process. The Avrami exponent and interfacial free energy of the chain‐folded surface of partially melted nylon‐1212 were higher than those of completely melted nylon‐1212. The work of chain folding was determined to be 5.9 kcal/mol. The activation energy of the isothermal crystallization process was determined to be 399.1 kJ/mol, far higher than that of complete melting. The crystallization rate coefficient and Jeziorny analysis indicated that the ability of nonisothermal crystallization for partially melted nylon‐1212 was enhanced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3222–3230, 2005 |