Observation of Growth Pulsations in Polymer Dendritic Crystalization in thin PEO/PMMA Blend Films

Published

August 1, 2002

Author(s)

Jack F. Douglas, V Ferreiro, James A. Warren, Alamgir Karim

Abstract

The crystallization of polymeric and metallic materials normally occurs under conditions far from equilibrium, leading to patterns that grow as propagating waves into the surrounding unstable fluid medium. The Mullins-Sekerka instability causes these wave fronts to break up into dendritic arms and we anticipate that the normal modes of the dendrite tips have a significant influence on pattern growth. To check this possibility, we focus on the dendritic growth of polyethylene oxide in a thin-film geometry. This crystalline polymer is mixed with an amorphous polymer (polymethyl-methacrylate) to tune the morphology and clay was added to nucleate the crystallization. The tips of the main dendrite trunks pulsate during growth and the side-branches, which grow orthogonally to the trunk, pulsate out of phase so that the tip dynamics is governed by a limit cycle.

Proceedings Title

American Chemical Society; Division of Polymer Chemistry, National Meeting | 224th | American Chemical Society (ACS)

Volume

43

Issue

No. 2

Conference Dates

August 1, 2002

Conference Title

Polymer Preprints

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

clay particles, crystallization, dendritic growth, film, growth pulsations, limit-cycle dynamics, polymer, polymer blend

Citation

Douglas, J. , Ferreiro, V. , Warren, J. and Karim, A. (2002), Observation of Growth Pulsations in Polymer Dendritic Crystalization in thin PEO/PMMA Blend Films, American Chemical Society; Division of Polymer Chemistry, National Meeting | 224th | American Chemical Society (ACS) (Accessed March 13, 2025)