The effect of molecular weight on the crystallization kinetics of polycaprolactone

The crystallization kinetics and degree of crystallinity of polycaprolactone (PCL) were studied using the technique of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization exotherms measured using DSC were analyzed using a modified Avrami equation. The modification limited the analysis of the data to the primary crystallization process, where the Avrami equation is applicable. Both the degree of crystallinity and primary composite rate constant were found to decrease with increasing molecular weight. The observations have been explained in terms of the unified reptation-nucleation theory. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.