Intracrystalline Dynamics in Oligomer‐Diluted Poly(Ethylene Oxide)

Solid-state creep, ductility, and drawability are relevant mechanical properties of "crystal-mobile" polymers, related to a large-scale chain transport through the crystal, which is in turn mediated by intracrystalline monomer jumps. Here, high-M-w poly(ethylene oxide) is used as a well-controlled model system, modulating the properties of the amorphous phase by diluting with a non-crystallized oligomer. Faster intracrystalline motions are found upon oligomer addition, indicating little changes in the fold surface and a dominant influence of the somewhat reduced lamellar thickness.