Oriented crystallization of isotactic polystyrene in films prepared by friction transfer

Abstract

The ability to orient polymer chains by applying external forces opens up the possibility to obtain polymeric surfaces with ordered structures. Here, we employed a friction-transfer approach by moving a pin of isotactic polystyrene (i-PS) across a smooth silicon counterface at controlled velocity, pressure and temperature which led to the deposition of a molecularly thin layer of highly oriented i-PS chains. The observed morphology of the resulting film (ribbons oriented in the sliding direction) indicated that the transferred molecules were highly oriented. This was confirmed after isothermal crystallization which led to the formation of so-called “shish–kebab” crystals aligned in the sliding direction. Thus, after crystallization all polymers were preferentially oriented with their chain axis in the shearing direction. Our results strongly suggest that by extending the polymer chain conformations in the shearing direction we can introduce a significant reduction of the nucleation barrier. Accordingly, friction transfer allows to align not only the transferred polymer chains but also the subsequently forming crystalline domains within the transferred films.