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Electrospinning and Characterization of the Stable and “Metastable” Self-Assembled Poly(ethylene oxide)-Urea Complexes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Yang Liu ,
Hélène Antaya  and
Christian Pellerin
Yang Liu
Affiliation:
Yang.liu.1@umontreal.caliuyangxju@yahoo.com, University of Montreal, Chemistry, Montreal, Canada
Hélène Antaya
Affiliation:
Yang.liu.1@umontreal.caliuyangxju@yahoo.com, University of Montreal, Chemistry, Montreal, Canada
Christian Pellerin
Affiliation:
Yang.liu.1@umontreal.caliuyangxju@yahoo.com, University of Montreal, Chemistry, Montreal, Canada
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Abstract

Solution electrospinning was used to prepare fibers of both the stable – trigonal α and “metastable” – orthorhombic β complexes between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and urea. The 300-800 nm fibers were highly crystalline and both types presented a relatively large level of molecular orientation. Characterization of the poorly-studied β complex was performed using wide-angle X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was shown that β complex possesses a 3:2 PEO:urea stoichiometry, in contrast with a previously suggested 1:1 molar ratio, and that the α inclusion complex keeps the 4:9 molar ratio as when prepared by the conventional co-crystallization method. A new structural model was suggested for the β complex, in which the unit cell would contain 12 PEO repeat units (4 chains in the ab plane with 3 repeat units along the c axis) and 8 urea molecules arranged in a ribbon-like structure and intercalated between the two PEO layers. This layer-structured β complex is quite different from the usual channel-like α inclusion complex and results in different phase transitional properties.

Keywords

nanostructurecompositepolymer
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1143: Symposium KK – Transport Properties in Polymer Nanocomposites , 2008 , 1143-KK05-02
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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References

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