Crystallization of low molecular weight atactic polystyrene

We observe and characterize the crystallization of atactic polystyrenes (PS) of nearly oligomeric M_w using atomic force microscopy. We find that the low M_w polystyrene exhibits observable crystals on the surface. The crystals appear to be a few nm thick and nm to microns wide. These crystals grow at all temperatures less than ∼290 K. Melting of crystals was probed over an extended temperature range, and some fraction of the crystals start to …