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Direct Observation of Early-Stage Polymer Crystallization Driven by Surface Wrinkling and Compressive Stress in Thin Films
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Green Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China.
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Fibre- and Polymer Technology, Fibre Processes. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6940-6012
Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Zentrum (MLZ), Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany; TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany.
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 130022, Changchun, China.
2025 (English)In: Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, ISSN 0256-7679, E-ISSN 1439-6203, Vol. 43, no 2, p. 360-367Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The early stages of crystallization and occurrence of surface wrinkling were investigated using poly(butadiene)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) with an ordered lamellar structure. Direct evidence has demonstrated that surface wrinkling precedes nucleation and crystal growth. This study examined the relationship between surface wrinkling, nucleation, and the formation of crystalline supramolecular structures using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray scattering measurements. Surface wrinkling is attributed to curving induced by accumulated stresses, including residual stress from the sample preparation and thermal stress during cooling. These stresses cause large-scale material flow and corresponding changes in the molecular conformations, potentially reducing the nucleation barrier. This hypothesis is supported by the rapid crystal growth observed following the spread of surface wrinkles. Additionally, the surface curving of the polymer thin film creates local minima of the free energy, facilitating nucleation. The nuclei subsequently grow into crystalline supramolecular structures by incorporating polymer molecules from the melt. This mechanism highlights the role of localized structural inhomogeneity in the early stages of crystallization and provides new insights into structure formation processes.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature , 2025. Vol. 43, no 2, p. 360-367
Keywords [en]
Nucleation, Polymer crystallization, Stress, Surface wrinkling, Thin film
National Category
Condensed Matter Physics Materials Chemistry
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-385756DOI: 10.1007/s10118-025-3264-3ISI: 001401093700001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85217163364OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-385756DiVA, id: diva2:2087133
Note

QC 20260717

Available from: 2026-07-17 Created: 2026-07-17 Last updated: 2026-07-17Bibliographically approved

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