Polymer Crystallization in Ultrathin Films

Confinement of a polymer to a thin film can dramatically alter the morphology and crystallinity. In this study, Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) is used to follow the dendritic crystallization of poly ($\varepsilon $-caprolactone) in Langmuir monolayers at the air/water interface. In a separate study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) on Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films show poly($_{L}$-lactic acid) form nearly 100{\%} crystalline single chain helices. These studies identify two model systems for studying crystallization and enzymatic degradation in ultrathin systems.