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Recrystallization of polyethylene during annealing
Author(s) -
Statton W. O.,
Geil P. H.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1960.070030913
Subject(s) - annealing (glass) , recrystallization (geology) , materials science , polyethylene , crystallization , crystallography , polymer , molecule , diffraction , electron microscope , solid state , electron diffraction , composite material , chemical engineering , optics , chemistry , organic chemistry , paleontology , physics , engineering , biology
The thickness of single crystal lamellae of polyethylene, crystallized from solution, is found to increase greatly during annealing at temperatures above 110°C. The change is observed with small‐angle x‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The increase in thickness of the lamellae takes place at the expense of their lateral perfection; holes develop within the lamellae. All evidence indicates that a major refolding of the molecules occurs; this emphasizes the need for a new concept of the amount of motion and freedom that polymer molecules can have in the solid state. A similar process apparently occurs during the annealing of bulk samples crystallized from the melt.