The fractional amount of crystallinity in the polymer sample (w c for mass fraction; φ c for volume fraction).
Notes: - The assumption is made that the sample can be subdivided into a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase (the so-called two-phase model).
- Both phases are assumed to have properties identical with those of their ideal states, with no influence of interfaces.
- The degree of @C01433@ may be expressed either as the @M03722@ or as the @V06643@, the two quantities being related by wc = φc.ρc/ρ where ρ and ρ c are the densities of the entire sample and of the crystalline fraction, respectively.
- The degree of @C01433@ can be determined by several experimental techniques; among the most commonly used are: (i) X-ray @D01711@, (ii) @C00786@, (iii) density measurements, and (iv) @IT07399@ @S05848@ (IR). Imperfections in crystals are not easily distinguished from the amorphous phase. Also, the various techniques may be affected to different extents by imperfections and interfacial effects. Hence, some disagreement among the results of quantitative measurements of @C01433@ by different methods is frequently encountered.
Source:
Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 75 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)