Orientation fluctuations of poly(ethylene terephthalate) during the induction period of crystallization

Abstract

The kinetics during the induction period of polymer crystallization is studied by means of depolarized light scattering measurements. The spinodal decomposition during this period is shown to be caused by orientation fluctuations of polymer segments. Time evolution of these orientation fluctuations can be described by the spinodal decomposition kinetics in terms of transformation from the isotropic to nematic phase proposed by Doi et al.