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Direct Observation of Poly(propylene)‐ block ‐Poly(ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) Molecules by Atomic Force Microscopy
Author(s) -
Prokhorov Valery V.,
Nitta Kohhei,
Terano Minoru
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200350086
Subject(s) - mica , copolymer , crystallite , materials science , ethylene propylene rubber , polymer chemistry , particle (ecology) , crystallography , composite material , chemistry , polymer , oceanography , geology
Abstract Summary: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been applied to get molecular images of diblock poly(propylene)‐ block ‐poly(ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) copolymers deposited on mica from diluted solutions at elevated temperatures. Both isolated molecules and their small aggregates have been visualized as compact particles of various sizes with outspreading poly(ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) chains. On the base of the height, volume and morphological analysis AFM images were divided into three groups. In the first group the compact particles are suggested to be small regular‐shaped crystallites formed by a few poly(propylene) blocks. Some isolated particles of this group were connected with single copolymer chains. In the second group the compact particles have larger dimensions and irregular or round shapes implying unordered packing of constituents. The third group were represented by isolated poly(ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) coils. The two‐dimensional expansion of coils on mica both isolated and included in aggregates exceeds several times their dimensions in a solution. The probable mechanism of such an expansion is proposed relying on the existence of van‐der‐Waals surface force field of a sufficient strength in the vicinity of the crystal surface.Enlarged AFM height images of block‐copolymer aggregates of group A with small compact particles of regular shapes (frames a, b, c) and group B (frame d) with a large globular compact particle.