Isothermal crystallization kinetics study on aqueous solution of poly(vinyl methyl ether) by FTIR and optical microscopy method

A study on the isothermal crystallization kinetics of aqueous solution of poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) was carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and optical microscopy respectively. IR spectra of PVME solution were measured as a function of time under the isothermal crystallization conditions. With the process of crystallization, the phase of solution changes from transparent state to opaque one within around 1-2 min for 40 or 45 wt % PVME sample, the C-H symmetric stretching bands (nus(CH3)) shift to lower wave number 2823 cm(-1). The red shift of nus(CH3) absorption band was not observed in the transparent noncrystallization area. Using the temperature jump method, we determined the growth rate of ice crystal between the glass transition temperature Tg and the melting temperature Tm. At the different crystallization temperatures Tc, the different morphologies and dimension of ice crystal are also observed.