Lamellar thickness of polyethylene single crystal isothermally crystallized in dilute solution

Summary Polyethylene single crystals were formed isothermally from 0.1% solution in tetralin (at 77.2, 84.8, and 89.8°C) and n-hexadecane (106.6°C), and those lamellar thicknesses were investigated as a function of crystallization time. These crystals have revealed no change or, if any, a little change in the lamellar thickness. Even for the crystals formed at considerably high temperature, 106.6°C, at which the segmental motion in a cyrstal begins to become active, the increase in those lamellar thicknesses was of the order of 10 Å. When polyethylene fractions with different molecular weight were crystallized at the same temperature, those lamellar thicknesses have shown nearly the same values. The results observed in this study are in striking contrast to those from isothermal crystallization in bulk, as observed byHoffman andWeeks. The constancy of the thickness of solution-grown crystals is interpreted as that the longitudinal translation of chains and chain ends in the interior of a crystal, necessary to thickening, will have been restrained on account of a considerably lower crystallization temperature than that in bulk. The lamellar thickness observed is presumed to have nearly equal value to the thickness of the growth nucleus as derived from the kinetic theory byLauritzen andHoffman.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden Polyäthylen-Einkristalle isotherm aus 0,1%iger Lösung in Tetralin bei 77,2, 84,8 und 89,8 °C und aus n-Hexadecane (106,6 °C) hergestellt, und es wurden die Lamellendicken als Funktion der Kristallisationszeit untersucht. Diese Kristalle haben keine Änderung gezeigt oder, wenn, dann nur eine sehr geringfügige Änderung der Dicke. Sogar für Kristalle bei beträchtlich höherer Temperatur, erzeugt bei 106,6 °C, bei der die Segmentbeweglichkeit in den Kristallen aktiv zu werden beginnt, war der Anstieg der Lamellendicken nur von der Größenordnung 10 Å. Wenn Polyäthylenfraktionen von verschiedenen Molekulargewichten bei derselben Temperatur kristallisiert wurden, zeigten die Lamellendicken nahezu dieselben Werte. Die beobachteten Ergebnisse sind in schlagendem Kontrast zu denjenigen isothermer Kristallisation aus der Masse, wie sie beiHoffman undWeeks beobachtet wurden. Die Konstanz der Dicke von lösungsgewachsenen Kristallen wird damit interpretiert, daß die longitudinale Translation der Ketten und Kettenenden im Inneren eines Kristalls, notwendig zum Dicken-Wachstum, infolge der beträchtlich langsameren, niedrigeren Kristallisationstemperaturen als bei Kristallisation in der Masse stark behindert ist. Die beobachteten Lamellendicken haben nahezu den gleichen Wert wie die Dicke des Wachstumskeims, wie er sich aus der kinetischen Theorie vonLauritzen undHoffman ableilet.

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With 1 table     

Epitaxial crystallization of polyoxymethylene on NaCl single crystal in dilute solution

The epitaxial crystallization of polyoxymethylene (POM) is observed from 0.01% cyclohexanol solution on the (001) cleavage face of NaCl. High-resolution electron microscopy reveals that the crystals are definitely triangular, rather than rectangular prisms, although the crystals have previously been interpreted as “edge-on” arrangements of lamellar crystals. An electron diffraction pattern obtained from films, which were piled up with a maximum of nine sheets per grid, shows that plane spacing of the epitaxial crystals is 3.87 Å and almost the same as the \[ \left\{ {10\bar 10} \right\} \] spacing (3.86 Å) of hexagonal single crystal of POM: the axes of POM fold chains in the crystals are parallel to the (001) plane. A possible mechanism for the epitaxial crystallization of POM is proposed.     

Poly(decamethylene oxide) single crystals from dilute solution

Summary A preliminary study on the morphology and chain orientation of four low molecular weight poly(decamethylene oxide) fractions crystallized from ethyl alcohol diluted solution is reported. The single crystals predominantly show the polyethylene orthorhombic unit cell projection although some also present the polytetrahydrofuran structure. The characteristic X-ray long periods obtained are indicative in all cases of a chain folded crystal surface.

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Zusammenfassung Eine vorläufige Studie der Morphologie und der Kettenorientierung von vier Polydecamethylenoxyd-Fraktionen niederen Molekulargewichtes, die aus verdünnter Methylalkohol-Lösung kristallisiert wurden, wird wiedergegeben.Die Einzelkristalle zeigen bevorzugt die orthorhombische Projektion der Einheitszelle, obgleich einige auch die Polytetrahydrofuranstruktur präsentieren. Die charakteristischen Röntgenstrahllangperioden deuten in allen Fällen auf eine kettengefaltete Kristalloberfläche hin.

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With 5 figures

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Thanks are due to Mr.J. Tinas Gálvez for the kind supply of the samples.     

Crystal growth of polyethylene from dilute solution: Growth kinetics of {110} twins and diffusion-limited growth of single crystals

We have studied the growth kinetics of {110} twins and single crystals of polyethylene in dilute solution of tetrachlorethylene. In terms of {110} twins, we succeeded in obtaining twins without {100} sectors, using a relatively high molecular weight fraction M_w > 10⁴. It is confirmed that the growth is enhanced at the reentrant corner of the twins, and the enhanced growth face inclines to the {110} face because of consecutive generation of steps at the corner. These facts are strong evidence for nucleation-controlled growth of single crystals. The growth rates and obliquity are measured at various supercoolings and concentrations. From consideration of kinetics of steps on the growth face, the following rates and velocity are independently determined from the experimental data: nucleation rate on a flat face, velocity of step propagation, and generation rate of steps at the reentrant corner. The supercooling dependence strongly supports regime II growth. The results on concentration dependence show that the velocity of steps is proportional to concentration over the whole range examined, and the nucleation rate is independent of it in the usual range and becomes proportional to it in the lower range. This concentration dependence of nucleation rate is attributed to the density of adsorbed polymer on the growth face. From this evidence, it is suggested that the rate of travel of steps is limited by volume diffusion of solute polymer, whereas the growth face is saturated with adsorbed polymer at ordinary concentrations. This contradictory situation could be explained by the hypotheses that the saturation density is rather low and that surface diffusion of adsorbed polymer is much slower than volume diffusion of solute polymer. The lower limit of the rate of folding is also determined for the first time from the velocity of step propagation. As regards the single crystals, it is found that the habit maintains a lozenge shape with sharpened points, even at very high supercooling (δT < 50°C) if the concentration is very dilute. Diffusion-limited growth is verified for the first time at the higher supercoolings, where the growth rate is almost independent of supercooling. The growth rate becomes almost equivalent to the velocity of steps determined in the experiments with twins, and this fact will support the accuracy of the evaluation of the step velocity. The order of magnitude of the growth rate obtained agrees with the value which is calculated from the balance between the flux of solute polymer to the growth face and the rate of growth of single crystals.     

Counterion and solvent effects on the dilute solution viscosity of polystyrene ionomers

We present an analysis of data on the intrinsic viscosity [η] of sulfo-polystyrene ionomers in several solvents for a variety of sulfonation levels and counterions. For solvents of low dielectric constant, 2 < ε < 18, [η] decreases from the base polymer value [η]₀ with increasing substitution level. This behavior was attributed to intramolecular association of ionic dipoles. The ratio [η]/[η]₀ was found to depend on a single reduced variable α_Aα_Sx, where x is the fractional substitution, α_A depends only on the counterion, and α_S ∝ ε^?1 depends only on the solvent. For solvents of high dielectric constant, 36 < ε < 47, [η] increases approximately as x³, and counterion effects are small. This behavior was attributed to ionic dissociation, giving rise to a polyelectrolyte effect. Implications of the low ε results are discussed in relation to association-induced gelation behavior and possible generalizations of the reduced variables approach.     

Morphology and structure of nylon‐2,14 single crystals from dilute solution

A perfect single crystal of nylon‐2,14 was prepared from 0.02% (w/v) 1,4‐butanediol solution by a “self‐seeding” technique and isothermal crystallization at 120 and 145 °C. The morphology and structure features were examined by transmission electron microscopy with both image and diffraction modes, atomic force microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The nylon‐2,14 single crystal grown from 1,4‐butanediol at 145 °C inhabited a lathlike shape with a lamellar thickness of about 9 nm. Electron diffraction and WAXD data indicated that nylon‐2,14 crystallized in a triclinic system with lattice dimensions a = 0.49 nm, b = 0.51 nm, c = 2.23 nm, α = 60.4°, β = 77°, and γ = 59°. The crystal structure is different from that of nylon‐6,6 but similar to that of other members of nylon‐2Y. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1913–1918, 2002     

Effect of solvent on depolarized light scattering in dilute polymer solutions

An optical model of a system in which both polymer segments and solvent molecules are described as point dipoles has been used to calculate the intensity of light depolarized in scattering. The final expression consists of six terms, the physical meaning of which is briefly discussed. An approximation procedure has been worked out for the calculation of two interaction terms due to deviations of the local field in solution from the Lorentz–Lorenz field; the terms have been calculated for simple models of flexible and rigid molecules. Their dependence on molecular weight appears to be approximately the same as the intrinsic anisotropy of the polymer molecule; their contribution is nonzero even for a solvent isorefractive with the polymer.     

聚苯乙烯在热力学半良溶剂丁酮中的稀溶液性质

用光散射.速度沉降和粘度法研究了宽分子量范围的窄分布聚苯乙烯样品在热力学半良溶剂丁酮中的稀溶液行为,与聚苯乙烯在θ溶剂和良溶剂中的文献数据相比较,讨论了聚苯乙烯的稀溶液性质.     

Effect of the solvent upon the diffusion coefficient of polydisperse polystyrene and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer in dilute solution

A laser homodyne spectrometer was used to obtain translational diffusion coefficients for dilute polystyrene and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer solutions at room temperature. Data were obtained in the concentration range from 0.01 to 2.0 g polymer per 100 cm³ solution for polystyrene in benzene and in decalin; and for copolymer in dimethyl formamide, in methyl ethyl ketone, and in benzene. The samples were polydisperse polystyrenes of weight average molecular weights between 80,000 and 350,000 and polydisperse copolymers of weight average molecular weights between 200,000 and 800,000. The SAN copolymers were random copolymer samples containing 24% by weight acrylonitrile. For each of the systems investigated the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient was linear over the concentration range studied, and was expressed as D(c) = D₀(1+k_Dc). Values of D₀ could be explained with a modified Kirkwood-Riseman expression. Values of the parameter k_D obtained from the slopes could be interpreted using the two-parameter theory approach as suggested by Vrentas and Duda. The value of k_D is positive for high-molecular-weight polymers and negative for low-molecular-weight polymers. For a particular polymer, the molecular weight at which k_D changes sign is greater for poor solvents than for good solvents. Observed values of D₀ were 1 × 10^?7 to 7 × 10^?7 cm²/sec.     

An atomistic simulation scheme for modeling crystal formation from solution

We present an atomistic simulation scheme for investigating crystal growth from solution. Molecular-dynamics simulation studies of such processes typically suffer from considerable limitations concerning both system size and simulation times. In our method this time-length scale problem is circumvented by an iterative scheme which combines a Monte Carlo-type approach for the identification of ion adsorption sites and, after each growth step, structural optimization of the ion cluster and the solvent by means of molecular-dynamics simulation runs. An important approximation of our method is based on assuming full structural relaxation of the aggregates between each of the growth steps. This concept only holds for compounds of low solubility. To illustrate our method we studied CaF2 aggregate growth from aqueous solution, which may be taken as prototypes for compounds of very low solubility. The limitations of our simulation scheme are illustrated by the example of NaCl aggregation from aqueous solution, which corresponds to a solute/solvent combination of very high salt solubility.     

Effect of solvent on radiation grafting and crosslinking of polyethylene

Crosslinking of polyethylene influences its swelling properties. It could be expected that pre-crosslinking of polyethylene influences the rate and yield of grafting as well. This is demonstrated by pre-crosslinking of polyethylene and by its subsequent grafting with styrene after the trapped radicals had been annealed out.In order to obtain more direct information about the influence of swelling agent on polyethylene crosslinking, the elastic modulus of the crosslinked polyethylene was investigated. Stress–strain curves of polyethylene samples irradiated in different environments were recorded in molten state at 165 °C. The results show that irradiation of swollen polyethylene produces fewer effective crosslinks than does irradiation of dry polymer.     

Light scattering characterization of thermodynamic interaction of polymers in dilute solution. Effect of solvent and molecular weight

Interaction of nonidentical polymer molecules in a dilute solution of a mixture of two polymers is quantitatively characterized by A₂₄, the second virial coefficient for interaction of unlike species. This parameter is related to the compatibility of the two polymers in solution and is obtainable experimentally, e.g., by light scattering. With chemically markedly different polymers, A₂₄ depends neither on the molecular weight of the polymers nor on the solvent and becomes characteristic of the polymer pair. For a mixture of two copolymers or of a homopolymer and a copolymer with similar compositions, A₂₄ depends both on the solvent and on the molecular weight of polymers. Under such circumstances A₂₄ ceases to be a quantity given only by the chemical structure of the two polymers; however, under suitable conditions it remains a sensitive function of the difference between the chemical nature of polymer components.     

Effect of solvent type on formation of PVC‐solvent complex

The effect of solvent type on the structural features of PVC gels prepared from the solutions of dibutyl phthalate(DBP) and butyl benzoate(BB) were investigated. The influence of solvent type, i.e., diester solvent or monoester solvent, on the mechanical responses was characterized by dynamic viscoelastic measurements as a function of temperature, aging time, and PVC concentration. In the case of PVC/DBP aged gels, the transition phenomenon appeared close to 50°C, whereas no such transitions were observed for PVC/BB aged gels. This transition is considered to be associated with polymer‐solvent complex which can be accounted for electrostatic interaction between C=O bond of solvent and H‐C‐Cl part of PVC. While BB solvent molecules can not form polymer‐solvent complex due to no capacity to act as a bridge between PVC molecular chains. FT‐IR spectroscopy and DSC investigation on either PVC/DBP gels or PVC/BB gels was reported and discussed together with the mechanical behavior. Electron micrographs of the dried gel prepared from the critical point drying technique reveal that the gel morphology consists of well developed three dimensional fibrous network structure independent of solvent type.     

Polymer crystal formation: On an analysis of the dilute solution lamellar thickness-crystallization temperature data for poly(ethylene)

Summary A detailed analysis of available crystal size-crystallization temperature data for crystallization of poly (ethylene) from dilute solutions indicates that all of the data may be represented by the semi-empirical expression: . For good solvents,T _s ⁰ =110.5 °C, _e =72.0 erg cm^–2, and . This semi-empirical expression differs from theoretical expressions,l ^*=2 _e T _s ⁰/h _f T _c +l, only in the magnitude of l predicted (5–15 Å) relative to the empirical value of . One possible origin of this difference may be a temperature dependence of _e .

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Zusammenfassung Eine detaillierte Analyse von Daten über die Abhängigkeit der Kristallgröße von der Temperatur in der Kristallisation von Polyäthylen aus verdünnten Lösungen zeigt, daß die Engebnisse wiedergegeben werden können durch die semi-empirische Gleichung: . Für gute Lösungsmittel:T _s ⁰ =110,5 °C, _e =72.0 erg cm^–2 und . Diese semi-empirische Beziehung unterscheidet sich von den theoretischen Ausdrücken,l _*=2 _e T _s ⁰/h _f T _c +l, nur in der Größe des Verhältnisses des vorausgesagten l (5–15 Å) zu dem empirisch gefundenen Wert von . Die Temperaturabhängigkeit von _e kann möglicherweise diesem andersartigen Verhältnis zugrunde liegen.

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With 4 figures and 1 table

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Contribution number 490 from the Chemstrand Reseach Center.     

Cellulose triacetate single crystals grown from solution at high temperature without inclusion of solvent

Single crystals of cellulose triacetate II (CTA II) free of crystallization solvent can be grown from dilute solution in mixtures of dibenzyl ether and n-tetradecane. Good results are obtained by using a polymer fraction with a degree of polymerization of 60 and a mixture of 70% n-tetradecane and 30% dibenzyl ether at 245°C. The lamellar crystals produced are lozenge-shaped with the longer diagonal parallel to the a axis of the lattice and with {110} as the growth faces. Twin growth occurs frequently with {110} as a twinning plane and less frequently with {210}.     

Coordinated pair chain folding model for solution-grown polyethylene single crystal

A new regular chain folding model, namely the “coordinated pair chain folding model” (CPCFM) is proposed to revive the consideration that a polymer chain should fold regularly rather than randomly in solution-grown polyethylene single crystals.     

Oxyethylene-oxypropylene-oxyethylene triblock copolymers crystallised from dilute solution

Following a method of self-seeding described by Leute and Smith, the oxyethylene-oxypropylene-oxyethylene triblock copolymers Pluronic F127 and Pluriol SC9361 have been crystallised from dilute solution under conditions which lead to a high proportion of monolayer single crystals. Electron microscopy has been used to follow the crystallisation process and to monitor changes in the crystallisation conditions. Changes in molecular weight and composition, accompanying crystallisation from dilute solution, have been detected. Comparison is made between the properties of single crystal mats and crystallised melts.