ISSN:
1432-0630
Keywords:
61.14
;
61.16
;
61.65
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We report on high-resolution experiments by Scanning Force Microscopy (SFM) indicating the tight folding of neighbouring molecular chains in Poly(Ethylene) (PE) crystals. Ultradrawn PE films were prepared in the stacked lamellar morphology exhibiting crystalline lamellae and amorphous parts. The [001] direction of the lamellae is aligned parallel to the substrate surface resulting in {hk0} planes perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the probing tip. This preparation technique allows the direct observation of the molecular arrangement in polymeric crystals as well as an investigation of the crystalline/amorphous interface by SFM: at lower magnification, crystalline and amorphous parts of the film can be distinguished clearly. High-resolution imaging on the crystalline lamellae reveals a PE pitch height of 0.26±0.02 nm while the interchain spacing measures 0.50±0.02 nm consistent with (100) lattice planes aligned parallel to the substrate surface. Finally, the molecular folding at the edges of the lamellae has been studied. Evidence is found for the adjacent reentry of individual molecules at the edge of (100) surfaces.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00332207
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