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ABSTRACT Time-resolved Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the crystallization kinetics of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) for the first time, and the

results were compared with those obtained with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and depolarized light scattering (DPLS). Isothermal crystallization either from the melt by cooling or

from the glass by heating was used to determine the temperature (_T_c) dependence of the crystallization rate (_k_). The derived values of _k_ were in good agreement with the results

obtained with other tools over the accessible _T_c ranges 250−262 °C and 110−135 °C for melt and cold crystallization, respectively. Based on the derived _k_ and the crystal growth rates

obtained from DPLS and optical microscopy (OM), the density of primary nucleation was readily calculated. The magnitudes of the nucleation densities in the cold-crystallized samples were

~5−6 orders higher than those of the melt-crystallized samples despite the similar _k_ values. The novelty of our work lies in revealing that the volume-filling spherulites of the

cold-crystallized sPS had modulated structure, reminiscent of spinodal decomposition. Thus, the nucleation pathway for cold crystallization is relevant to spinodal-assisted nucleation, which

significantly enhances the nucleation density. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access

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subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS EXPLOSIVE FIBONACCI-SEQUENCE GROWTH INTO UNUSUAL SECTOR-FACE MORPHOLOGY IN POLY(L-LACTIC ACID)

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and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 109-2221-E-006-202-MY3). AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan,

ROC Chun-Yu Lo & Chi Wang Authors * Chun-Yu Lo View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Chi Wang View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Chi Wang. ETHICS DECLARATIONS CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no competing interests.

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CITE THIS ARTICLE Lo, CY., Wang, C. Kinetics and morphologies of syndiotactic polystyrene crystallized isothermally over a wide temperature range. _Polym J_ 55, 761–773 (2023).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00775-8 Download citation * Received: 10 October 2022 * Revised: 27 January 2023 * Accepted: 20 February 2023 * Published: 28 March 2023 * Issue Date: July

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