| Abstract: | A series of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilanes) were prepared via anionic ring-opening polymerization. The isothermal crystallization kinetics were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and analyzed in terms of the Avrami equation. The value of the Avrami exponent is approximately 3 for the majority of samples and crystallization temperatures. This suggests a three-dimensional spherulitic growth and an instantaneous nucleation mechanism. The morphology of melt-crystallized samples was studied by atomic force microscopy. Hedrites (immature spherulites) were formed at low undercoolings whereas at high levels of undercooling mature, well developed spherulites were observed with small hedritic features in their center. The melting enthalpy for a 100% crystalline polymer was estimated to be 36 J/g from differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction data obtained by using specimens with different degrees of crystallinity. |
