The existence of a “memory” of the previous crystalline state, which survives melting and enhances recrystallization kinetics by a self-nucleation process, is well-known in polymer crystallization studies. Despite being extensively investigated, since the early days of polymer crystallization studies, a complete understanding of melt memory effects is still lacking. In particular, the exact constitution of self-nuclei is still under debate. In this Perspective, we provide a comprehensive and critical overview of melt memory effects in polymer crystallization. After the phenomenology of the process and some key concepts are introduced, the main experimental results of the past decades are summarized. Analogies and discrepancies of the melt memory characteristics of different polymeric systems are highlighted. Based on this background, the most significant interpretations and theories of melt memory effects are described, underlining that different interpretations may apply to various specific cases. Recent insights into self-nucleation, gained thanks to a multitechnique approach (combining calorimetry, rheology, and infrared and dielectric spectroscopies), are presented. The role of intra/interchain segmental contacts in the strength of melt memory effects, and the differences between homopolymers and copolymers behavior, are discussed. Finally, we identify areas where further research in the field is needed to shed light on the long-standing questions regarding the origin of melt memory effects in semicrystalline polymers.

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自成核作用对聚合物结晶的影响

在聚合物结晶研究中众所周知，存在先前晶态的“记忆”，该记忆在熔化过程中幸存下来，并通过自成核过程增强了重结晶动力学。尽管进行了广泛的研究，但是自从聚合物结晶研究开始以来，仍然缺乏对熔体记忆效应的完整理解。特别是，自核的确切构成仍在争论中。在此观点中，我们提供了聚合物结晶中熔体记忆效应的全面而关键的概述。在介绍了该过程的现象学和一些关键概念之后，总结了过去几十年的主要实验结果。突出了不同聚合物体系的熔体记忆特性的类比和差异。基于此背景，描述了熔体记忆效应的最重要的解释和理论，强调不同的解释可能适用于各种特定情况。介绍了通过多种技术方法（结合量热法，流变学以及红外和介电谱技术）获得的有关自成核的最新见解。讨论了链内/链间节段接触在熔体记忆效应强度中的作用，以及均聚物和共聚物行为之间的差异。最后，我们确定了需要在该领域进行进一步研究的领域，以阐明有关半结晶聚合物中熔体记忆效应起源的长期存在的问题。介绍了通过多种技术方法（结合量热法，流变学以及红外和介电谱技术）获得的有关自成核的最新见解。讨论了链内/链间节段接触在熔体记忆效应强度中的作用，以及均聚物和共聚物行为之间的差异。最后，我们确定了需要在该领域进行进一步研究的领域，以阐明有关半结晶聚合物中熔体记忆效应起源的长期存在的问题。介绍了通过多种技术方法（结合量热法，流变学以及红外和介电谱技术）获得的有关自成核的最新见解。讨论了链内/链间节段接触在熔体记忆效应强度中的作用，以及均聚物和共聚物行为之间的差异。最后，我们确定了需要在该领域进行进一步研究的领域，以阐明有关半结晶聚合物中熔体记忆效应起源的长期存在的问题。讨论。最后，我们确定了需要在该领域进行进一步研究的领域，以阐明有关半结晶聚合物中熔体记忆效应起源的长期存在的问题。讨论。最后，我们确定了需要在该领域进行进一步研究的领域，以阐明有关半结晶聚合物中熔体记忆效应起源的长期存在的问题。