2003 Volume 44 Issue 12 Pages 2520-2523
A model to describe a non-rotation type magnetic alignment of crystalline polymers during crystallization from melts is presented. The model is based on the presence of mesophase existing between the melt phase and the crystalline phase, with an extremely small transformation enthalpy and a resultant large shift of melting point in the presence of a magnetic field. A calculation of the magnetic effect on the nucleation and growth rates of mesophase is carried out. It is shown that these rates are enhanced for the mesophase with a specific orientation with respect to the applied field, resulting in alignment.