Unusual crystals of poly(ε-caprolactone) by unusual crystallisation: The effects of rapid cooling and fast solvent loss on the morphology, crystal structure and melting

N. Sanandaji, L. Ovaskainen, M. Klein Gunnewiek, G.J. Vancso, M.S. Hedenqvist, S. Yu, L. Erisson, S.V. Roth, U.W. Gedde

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Abstract

The lateral habit, unit cell structure and melting behaviour of single crystals of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) prepared by the rapid expansion of a supercritical solution technique was studied by AFM at ambient and higher temperatures and by grazing-incident X-ray scattering using a synchrotron source. After dissolving PCL in a solution of supercritical CO2 and 0.1 vol.% chloroform, an extremely fast phase transfer from a supercritical to a gas-like state occurred during expansion into atmospheric conditions, leading to a temporary temperature drop to below −50 °C at the silica surface where the crystals were deposited. Single crystals of a hitherto unreported rectangular lateral habit were observed. Six-sided crystals were also observed, but they were fewer than the rectangular crystals and in addition the angles between the lateral faces were different from the theoretical angles between adjacent {110} faces and {110} and {100} faces. X-ray scattering indicated a polymorphic structure also including the orthorhombic (110) and (200) diffraction peaks. Distinct low angle peaks essentially along the c-axis indicated a stacking on a very fine scale (3.7–4.7 nm) within the crystals. The equatorial diffraction peaks indicated a less dense packing of the PCL stems. Rectangular single crystals with a height according to AFM of 11–27 nm melted between 40 and 45 °C, which is lower than the melting points (55 °C) recorded for the distorted six-sided crystals. The unusual conditions for crystallisation used gave the polymer molecules a severe limitation to rearrange from the initial random coil state. The facetted crystals consisted of a stack of 4 nm thick blocks; these blocks most probably constituted a regular variation in molecular packing, i.e. molecular order. The pronounced changes in the angles between adjacent faces from those observed in mature PCL crystals and the wide-angle X-ray scattering data indicated the presence of conformational disorder in the crystals.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1497-1503
Number of pages7
JournalPolymer
Volume54
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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