Abstract
Real-space and time-resolved observations of morphologyand pattern formation resulting from crystallization of ultrathin films of low molecular weight polyethyleneoxide (PEO) or diblock copolymers containing PEO shed light on the mechanisms of how polymers order. Differences in viscoelastic properties, as detected by tapping-mode atomic force microscopy, allow distinguishing crystalline and molten (amorphous) areas with a nanometer resolution. In our approach, we use simple but restricted geometries like thin films of controlled thickness or confinement resulting from block copolymer mesostructures. Nucleation in ultrathin films is suppressed or at least stronglyhindered and thus less restricted areas (thicker regions) will act as nucleation sites. This enables us to separate nucleation from growth and to follow growth exclusively. The resulting morphologycan be directlyrelated to the kinetics of crystal growth. Changes in the morphologywith time and due to different thermal histories are the consequence of the mestable nature of polymer crystals. In addition, information about the nucleation process is obtained by studying crystal formation in 12 nm small spherical cells of a block copolymer mesostructure. There, growth is extremely limited and the main event is nucleation. We discuss the advantages of thin film studies for a better understanding of polymer crystallization.
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Reiter, G., Castelein, G., Sommer, JU. (2003). Crystallization of Polymers in Thin Films: Model Experiments. In: Reiter, G., Sommer, JU. (eds) Polymer Crystallization. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 606. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45851-4_8
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