Master curve of crystal growth rate and its corresponding state in polymeric materials

The temperature dependence of linear crystal growth rate (G) for various polymers shows a bell shape with the maximum growth rate (Gmax). The Gmax shows remarkable molecular weight dependence. The Gmax was formulated on the basis of a crystallization theory, both for Arrhenius and WLF expressions in the molecular transport term. The plots of the reduced growth rate (G/Gmax) against the reduced temperature (T/Tcmax) for a given polymer showed a single master curve without molecular weight dependence. The ratio of G0/Gmax gave a constant value for each polymer, indicating a material constant. On the basis of Gmax for many polymers, a universal master curve was observed when the ratio of ln(G/Gmax)/ln(G0/Gmax) was plotted against the reduced temperature (T/Tcmax).