https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2009-10480-0
Regular Article
Enhancing nucleation and controlling crystal orientation by rubbing/scratching the surface of a thin polymer film
1
COBM - ENSCMu, 12 rue des Frères Lumière, 68093, Mulhouse cedex, France
2
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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Received:
9
March
2009
Revised:
5
June
2009
Accepted:
24
June
2009
Published online:
5
August
2009
Abstract
We used the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) in the contact mode to scratch/rub the surface of a glassy polymer thin film, i.e., isotactic polystyrene (i-PS) at room temperature. After subsequent isothermal crystallization, an extremely high nucleation density of edge-on crystals within the rubbed region or at the edge of the scratched area was observed. Furthermore, a transition from edge-on to flat-on lamellae occurred beyond a certain distance from the edge of the scratched region. Our results demonstrate that both, soft rubbing or hard scratching, allow to lower the nucleation barrier for polymer crystallization and to control the orientation of the resulting crystalline lamellae. The role of scratching/rubbing on chain deformation and its relation to nucleation and crystal orientation in polymer thin films is discussed.
PACS: 68.37.-d Microscopy of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films – / 68.55.-a Thin film structure and morphology – / 81.10.-h Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth –
Present address: Centre Integré en Pâtes et Papiers, Université du Québec à Trois Rivières, 3351 boul. des forges, C.P. 500, Trois Rivières, QC, G9A-5H7, Canada
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2009
