Shear Induced Crystallization, a Relaxation Phenomenon in Polymer Melts: A Re‐Collection

Thread‐like nuclei for the crystallization of polymers which are formed at high deformation rates in a temperature range close to the equilibrium melting point appear to be practically stable at temperatures where spherulites are melting. However, the fact that the great majority of experiments on flow induced crystallization have been carried out at temperatures below the melting temperature of the spherulites leads to the conclusion that the precursors for elongated structures, as formed under those conditions, are practically stable from the moment of their creation. In other words: their relaxation times are much longer than any deformation time applied. As a consequence, deformation times as independent parameters lose their importance in these experiments. Long lasting deformations under low stresses can yield the same precursors as short term deformations under high loads. Apparently the only condition is that the applied specific work is the same.