Crystallisation Behaviour of Polymeric Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers can be semi-crystalline or amorphous. The thermal behaviour (glass transition, melting and crystallisation temperatures) and crystalline structure (e.g., crystallite number, size and geometry) have an influence on polymers’ physical behaviour. Such features will thereby affect the applications of these materials. Crystallisation phenomena occur through nucleation and growth mechanisms of small molecules. Crystallites usually have a chain-folded structure, but many semi-crystalline polymers form spherulites. The number and size of spherulites will impact not only the crystallisation behaviour and thermal properties of the polymer but also the mechanical, optical, and chemical properties.

In industrial processes such as extrusion or injection moulding (IM), polymer materials experience non-isothermal rather than isothermal crystallisation. For IM, a higher crystallisation rate and higher degree of crystallinity are usually preferred to foster the production rate. One of the strategies applied to increase the crystallisation rate is the addition of nucleating agents. For instance, natural materials usually reveal nucleation activity and/or transcrystallisation.

The present Special Issue calls for papers from the research community that provide relevant information on the crystallisation behaviour of polymers. The issue aims to provide a platform to discuss new ideas and to promote new insights into this matter.

Dr. Sara P. Magalhães Da Silva
Prof. Dr. José Martinho Marques de Oliveira
Guest Editors

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