There are many variables that affect the physical and mechanical properties of crystalline polymers through the processing and fabrication stages of manufacture. Four of the most important are temperature, pressure, molecular weight, and chain microstructure. In this project, the synergistic effects of all four are being investigated for a series of polymers. Several recent important developments in crystallization theory will be investigated for homopolymers and copolymers based principally on polyethylene, polypropylene, and cis-polyisoprene. The research will enable quantitative analysis to be made of crystallization theories. It will help unravel the complicated synergisms of the variables referred to above.
