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Impact of Nanoscale Confinement on Crystal Orientation of Poly(ethylene oxide)
Author(s) -
Wang Haopeng,
Keum Jong K.,
Hiltner Anne,
Baer Eric
Publication year - 2010
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.200900653
Subject(s) - materials science , lamellar structure , nucleation , crystallization , polymer , ethylene oxide , crystallization of polymers , poly ethylene , oxide , nanoscopic scale , chemical engineering , substrate (aquarium) , crystal (programming language) , crystallography , polymer chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , ethylene , copolymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , oceanography , geology , engineering , metallurgy , computer science , programming language
Using a layer‐multiplying coextrusion process to fabricate films with thousands of alternating polymer nanolayers, we report here a new crystalline morphology in confined polymer nanolayers and an abrupt transition in the crystallization habit. At higher temperatures, poly(ethylene oxide) crystallizes as large, in‐plane lamellae. A 5 °C change in the crystallization temperature produces an on‐edge lamellar orientation. The results point to a transition from heterogeneous nucleation to substrate‐assisted nucleation. This may be a general phenomenon that accounts for previously unexplained differences in the preferred chain alignment of confined polymer crystals.