Orientation development during shear flow-induced crystallization of i-PP

Shear enhanced isothermal crystallization of i-PP was studied using a newly developed sandwich type shear cell and an optical setup with a modulated spinning laser. Considering a limited set of conditions, one temperature (140 degrees C) and one shear strain (100 units), we illustrate how this setup enables the characterization of the orientation development in homogeneous samples from the low shear rate region with spherulitic structures up into the highly oriented regime with row nucleated structure. At the same time, our choice of sample thickness allows us to measure the evolution of transmitted intensity. Further study of these features holds promise of a better characterization of the morphology development using optical techniques.