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Mpemba effect in crystallization of polybutene-1
Jinghua Liu1, Jingqing Li1, Binyuan Liu2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China. scjiang@tju.edu.cn.
The Mpemba effect, where warmer water freezes faster, is observed in polybutene-1 (PB-1) crystallization. This phenomenon is linked to chain conformational entropy and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Thermodynamics
- Materials Science
Background:
- The Mpemba effect, a counterintuitive phenomenon where warmer water freezes faster than colder water, is rarely reported in polymer crystallization.
- Polybutene-1 (PB-1) exhibits a low critical cooling rate and retains thermal history, making it a unique candidate for studying such effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Mpemba effect in the crystallization of polybutene-1 (PB-1).
- To explore the underlying thermodynamic principles governing this phenomenon in polymers.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of nascent PB-1 samples using metallocene catalysis at low temperatures.
- Characterization of crystallization behavior and crystalline structure using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS).
Main Results:
- A distinct Mpemba effect was observed during the crystallization of nascent PB-1 melt into both form II and form I.
- The effect was noted even when form I was obtained from PB-1 melted at a low temperature.
Conclusions:
- The observed Mpemba effect in PB-1 crystallization is attributed to variations in chain conformational entropy within the lattice, impacting relaxation times.
- Adam-Gibbs equations can predict entropy and relaxation times, while non-equilibrium thermodynamics is essential for describing the crystallization process exhibiting the Mpemba effect.
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