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Enhanced Templating in the Crystallisation of Poly( ε ‐caprolactone) Using 1,3:2,4‐di(4‐Chlorobenzylidene) Sorbitol
Author(s) -
Wangsoub Supatra,
Davis Fred J.,
Mitchell Geoffrey R.,
Olley Robert H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200800497
Subject(s) - caprolactone , materials science , polymer , crystallization , chemical engineering , sorbitol , crystal (programming language) , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , computer science , engineering , programming language
We show that small quantities of 1,3:2,4‐di(4‐chlorobenzylidene) sorbitol dispersed in poly( ε ‐caprolactone) provide a very effective self‐assembling nanoscale framework which, with a flow field, yields extremely high levels of polymer crystal orientation. During modest shear flow of the polymer melt, the additive forms highly extended nano‐particles which adopt a preferred alignment with respect to the flow field. On cooling, polymer crystallisation is directed by these particles. This chloro substituted dibenzylidene sorbitol is considerably more effective at directing the crystal growth of poly( ε ‐caprolactone) than the unsubstituted compound.