Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was filled with a very small amount of starch nanocrystals (SNC), with the objective being to control its crystallization. Three kinds of SNC particles, including a pristine one and ones acetylated with low- and middle-level substitutions, were used. Their roles during PCL crystallization were studied. The results reveal that pristine SNC acts as the nucleating agent, evidently increasing crystallization temperature and spherulite growth rate. However, nucleation activity of SNC particles reduces with their increasing level of surface acetylation. The middle-level-acetylated SNC particles even act as the antinucleation agent, impeding nucleation and subsequent spherulite growth of PCL. The phase affinity in those systems was then evaluated by the interaction energy parameter, aiming at a better understanding of the mechanism of role alterations of SNC particles. This work provides an interesting way to control PCL crystallization and opens a new door to extend applications of SNC particles.

中文翻译：

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淀粉纳米晶体绿色聚（ε-己内酯）纳米复合材料的结晶：淀粉纳米晶体表面乙酰化的成核作用转换

聚（ε-己内酯）（PCL）填充了非常少量的淀粉纳米晶体（SNC），目的是控制其结晶。使用了三种SNC颗粒，包括原始的一种和被低级和中级取代乙酰化的SNC颗粒。研究了它们在PCL结晶过程中的作用。结果表明，原始的SNC作为成核剂，明显提高了结晶温度和球晶的生长速率。但是，SNC颗粒的成核活性随其表面乙酰化水平的提高而降低。中级乙酰化的SNC颗粒甚至充当抗核剂，阻碍了PCL的成核和随后的球晶生长。然后通过相互作用能参数评估这些系统中的相亲和力，旨在更好地了解SNC粒子的角色改变机制。这项工作提供了一种有趣的方法来控制PCL结晶，并为扩展SNC颗粒的应用打开了新的大门。