The effect of electrostatic field on the micro-crystal morphology of polymer films

The micro-crystal morphology of the films of isotactic polypropylene (iPP), poly(3-dodecylthiophene) (P3DDT) and iPP/P3DDT blend grown in different el ectrostatic environments has been investigated by using scanning electron m icroscope. The experimental results show that the micro-crystal morphology of polymer films was strongly dependent on electrostatic field. It was foun d that the micro-crystal morphology of the films of iPP, P3DDT and iPP/P3DD T blend grown in the electrostatic field was in the form of dendrite crysta ls, in which main stems were aligned in the field direction, and some branc hes of P3DDT were ruptured. However, the micro-crystals of the films of iPP , P3DDT and iPP/P3DDT blend have no crystal orientation in the absence of e lectrostatic field. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.