Direct observation of prefreezing at the interface melt–solid in polymer crystallization

摘要: Crystallization is almost always initiated at an interface to a solid. This observation classically explained by the assumption of reduced barrier for crystal nucleation interface. However, can also induce crystallization prefreezing (i.e., formation crystalline layer that already stable above bulk melting temperature). We present atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based in situ process polymeric model system and Explicitly, we show interfacial ordered forms well temperature with thickness increases on approaching melt–solid coexistence. Below temperature, initiates growth into bulk, leading oriented, homogeneous semicrystalline structure.