Regular single crystals of polyethylene oxide were obtained through solution crystallization.To study their melting behavior on different iPB-1 substrates

iPB-1 thin films with different lamellar orientation have been prepared by crystallizing from melt at different temperatures.AFM observation shows that crystallizing from melt in air at room temperature the iPB-1 film exhibits an edge-on lamellar structure with molecular chains in film plane.On the other hand

crystallizing from melt at 100℃ isothermally

the iPB-1 film has a flat-on lamellar orientation with molecular chains perpendicular to the film plane.The melting of PEO single crystals on these different iPB-1 surfaces was then monitored by in situ AFM observation.It was found that the PEO single crystals on edge-on and flat-on iPB-1 crystalline film surfaces melted approximately at same temperature

which was confirmed by theoretical calculation.However

the dewetting behavior of the molten PEO single crystals depends on the lamellar orientation of the iPB-1 evidently.The PEO melt on edge-on iPB-1 film surface shows somewhat a better wetting ability than on flat-on iPB-1 crystalline film surface.