Solubility considerations in relative block crystallization and morphology of PEO-b-PCL films

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2020-02-17
Authors
Tower, Cole W
Allen, Kristi
Carandang, Allison
Van Horn, Ryan M.
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Keywords
block copolymers , crystallization , FTIR , morphology , solubility
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Abstract
Poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) is a heavily investigated amphiphilic crystalline-crystalline diblock copolymer. Its macroscopic physical properties are influenced by the crystallization behavior, which is robust due to similar crystallization temperatures of PEO and PCL. As such, tailoring the crystallinity and crystalline morphology should be advantageous to achieving desired changes in film properties. One method to manipulate the crystallization, analyzed here, is the selective solvation of one block during solvent casting. By careful solvent selection, the crystallization of PEO and PCL during solvent evaporation led to changes in relative crystallinity and film morphology. The effect of environmental humidity on the crystallization mechanism and relative block crystallization was explored in detail using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
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Chemistry
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This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/pcr2.10107
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Tower, CW, Allen, K, Carandang, A, Van Horn, RM. Solubility considerations in relative block crystallization and morphology of PEO-b-PCL films. Polymer Crystallization. 2020; 3:e10107. https://doi.org/10.1002/pcr2.10107
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Wiley
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