# Spinodal-assisted crystallization in polymer melts

Source: [Spinodal-assisted crystallization in polymer melts](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa248e2c2a3760193a5c51>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-24T09:18:10.151Z

Authors: Peter D. Olmsted, Wilson C. K. Poon, T. C. B. McLeish, N. J. Terrill, A. J. Ryan

Published: 1998-06-02T08:59:31.000Z

## Abstract

Recent experiments in some polymer melts quenched below the melting temperature have reported spinodal kinetics in small-angle X ray scattering before the emergence of crystalline structure. To explain these observations we propose that the coupling between density and chain conformation induces a liquid-liquid binodal within the equilibrium liquid--crystalline solid coexistence region. A simple phenomenological theory is developed to illustrate this idea, and several experimentally testable consequences are discussed. Shear is shown to enhance the kinetic role of the hidden binodal.

## Recorded benchmark results

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9806024>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/9806024.pdf>)