Molecular simulations of confined crystallization in the microdomains of diblock copolymers

Zha, Liyun; Hu, Wenbing

doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2015.10.010

Cited by 39 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 229 publications

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“…In the past few years, the crystallization of polymers or polymer segments confined in ultrathin films (thickness <100 nm), miscible polymer blends and block copolymers has been widely studied for various systems. The unique crystallization kinetics, crystalline morphology, structure and melting process of polymers confined in such systems have been reviewed in several papers [34][35][36][37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystalline and Spherulitic Morphology of Polymers Crystallized in Confined Systems

Xie

Bao

et al. 2017

Crystals

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Due to the effects of microphase separation and physical dimensions, confinement widely exists in the multi-component polymer systems (e.g., polymer blends, copolymers) and the polymers having nanoscale dimensions, such as thin films and nanofibers. Semicrystalline polymers usually show different crystallization kinetics, crystalline structure and morphology from the bulk when they are confined in the nanoscale environments; this may dramatically influence the physical performances of the resulting materials. Therefore, investigations on the crystalline and spherulitic morphology of semicrystalline polymers in confined systems are essential from both scientific and technological viewpoints; significant progresses have been achieved in this field in recent years. In this article, we will review the recent research progresses on the crystalline and spherulitic morphology of polymers crystallized in the nanoscale confined environments. According to the types of confined systems, crystalline, spherulitic morphology and morphological evolution of semicrystalline polymers in the ultrathin films, miscible polymer blends and block copolymers will be summarized and reviewed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystalline and Spherulitic Morphology of Polymers Crystallized in Confined Systems

Xie

Bao

et al. 2017

Crystals

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“…Similar results were found with PE‐ b ‐PLLA for PLLA crystallization with amorphous PE fraction; however, PLLA crystals were oriented with the c ‐axis parallel to the interface normal . The developed orientation is related to the nucleation density as well, and therefore, it has a slight isothermal T c dependence …”

Section: Conventional Crystallizable Diblock Copolymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whether block copolymer crystallization occurs from the miscible bulk, through CDSA in solution, or within microdomains, these systems provide novel structures to study fundamental behavior, such as nucleation and growth, thermodynamic stability, growth kinetics, crystallization in confinement, etc, where there still are many unanswered questions in the area of polymer crystallization . These include nucleation and growth mechanisms and the role of junction or tethering points in these processes, thermodynamics (energetics) of crystal size, domain size, and noncrystallized block chain structure, finding universal parameters to predict crystallization behavior by deconvoluting BCP composition (mass or volume fraction), local environment (concentration, confinement, etc), and chain dynamic effects, and controlled assembly and disassembly of BCPs or crystallized BCPs in multi‐component systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent progress in block copolymer crystallization

Horn

Steffen

O'Connor

2018

Polymer Crystallization

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Block copolymers (BCPs) are important for technological advances in numerous industries, including but not limited to, electronics, biomedical, optics, environmental, and infrastructure. Because of their ubiquity, it is important to understand their hierarchical phase behavior to tune their macroscopic properties for efficient use. These macroscopic properties are derived from the microscopic self‐assembled structures. One unique form of hierarchical assembly exists when one or more of the polymeric blocks form lamellar crystals. These crystals are integral to understanding and predicting the macroscopic behavior. This review reports on recent advances in crystallization of BCPs, including bulk and solution assembly. Reports highlighting development in fundamental processes regarding crystallization mechanisms and behavior as well as for the design of practical applications are included.

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“…Spatial confinement widely exists in multi-component polymer systems and polymer systems with nanoscale dimensions. Confined or constrained crystallization of semicrystalline polymers in nanometre-sized environments has attracted much attention from the scientific and technological viewpoints (Michell & Mü ller, 2016;Mijangos et al, 2016;Prud'homme, 2016;Zha & Hu, 2016). Constrained crystallization of polymers has been found in a variety of systems including polymer ultrathin films, polymer blends, block copolymers and polymers segregated inside nanoporous templates (Michell & Mü ller, 2016;Mijangos et al, 2016;Prud'homme, 2016;Zha & Hu, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controllable formation of unusual homocrystals in poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) asymmetric blends induced by the constraining effects of pre-existing stereocomplexes

Xie

Zhou

et al. 2020

J Appl Cryst

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Crystallization in confined environments usually induces polymers showing complicated crystallization kinetics and unusual crystalline structure. Beyond the typical confined polymer systems, pre-existing crystals can also exert confinement effects on the subsequent crystallization of polymorphic or multi-component polymers; this, however, is not well understood at present. Herein, poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA, abbreviated as L/D) asymmetric blends with various PDLA fractions (f D = 0.02–0.5) are chosen as a model system and the effects of pre-existing stereocomplexes (SCs) on the crystallization kinetics and polymorphic structure are investigated. It is found that unusual β-form homocrystals (HCs) of poly(lactic acid) can be formed in an asymmetric L/D blend, which are strongly influenced by the molecular weights (MWs) of the used polymers, L/D mixing ratio, thermal treatment temperature (T max) and crystallization temperature (T c). The formation of β-HCs is preferred in asymmetric L/D blends with low and medium MWs, medium f D (0.1–0.2), medium T max (170–200°C), and low T c (70–110°C). The metastable β-HCs reorganize into the more stable α-HCs via melt recrystallization in the heating process. It is proposed that the β-HC formation stems from the constraining effects of pre-existing SCs; this constraining effect is governed by the content of pre-existing unmelted SCs in the thermally treated samples.

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Molecular simulations of confined crystallization in the microdomains of diblock copolymers

Cited by 39 publications

References 229 publications

Crystalline and Spherulitic Morphology of Polymers Crystallized in Confined Systems

Crystalline and Spherulitic Morphology of Polymers Crystallized in Confined Systems

Recent progress in block copolymer crystallization

Controllable formation of unusual homocrystals in poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) asymmetric blends induced by the constraining effects of pre-existing stereocomplexes

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