From heterogeneous to homogeneous nucleation of isotactic poly(propylene) confined to nanoporous alumina

The crystallization of highly isotactic polypropylene confined in self-ordered nanoporous alumina is studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A transformation from a predominantly heterogeneous to predominantly homogeneous nucleation takes place if the pore diameter is smaller than 65 nm. Crystallization is suppressed with decreasing pore size, and the absence of nucleation below 20 nm pores indicates the critical nucleus size. The results reported here might enhance the understanding of nanocomposites containing semicrystalline polymers and reveal design criteria for polymeric nanofibers with tailored mechanical and optical properties.