title: Impact of Nanoscale Confinement on Crystal Orientation of Poly(ethylene oxide).
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7202, USA.
authors: Haopeng
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Jong K
authors: JK
authors: Keum
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Hiltner
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Baer