Morphological study of low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) single crystals grown from solution

Single crystals of a low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) fraction have been isothermally grown from dilute solutions in amyl acetate by means of seeding with a polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer and then applying different crystallization procedures. The crystal morphology has been studied by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. It has been found that the lamella thickness continuously changes with increasing crystallization temperature and no stepwise variations have been observed as for melt crystallized samples. The results have been compared with those reported for low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) fractions and discussed on the basis of possible chain arrangements at the crystal surface. © 1985.