The physical determinants of the thickness of lamellar polymer crystals

TL;DR

This paper uses kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to propose a new mechanism explaining why lamellar polymer crystals have a thickness near the thermodynamic minimum, challenging existing theories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simulation-based perspective on lamellar thickness constraints, contrasting with traditional theoretical models.

Findings

Lamellar thickness is constrained near the thermodynamic minimum.

Simulation results challenge existing theoretical approaches.

Provides new insights into polymer crystallization mechanisms.

Abstract

Based upon kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of crystallization in a simple polymer model we present a new picture of the mechanism by which the thickness of lamellar polymer crystals is constrained to a value close to the minimum thermodynamically stable thickness. This description contrasts with those given by the two dominant theoretical approaches.