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Science 19 November 1965:
Vol. 150. no. 3699, pp. 1026 - 1027
DOI: 10.1126/science.150.3699.1026
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Articles

Intercrystalline Links in Bulk Polyethylene

H. D. Keith 1, F. J. Padden Jr. 1, and R. G. Vadimsky 1

1 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey

Strength-promoting intercrystalline links in polyethylene, crystallized from the melt, have been observed under the electron microscope. The links measure up to many thousands of angstroms in length (depending upon the molecular weight of the polymer) and are of the order of 100 Å in diameter. Their formation appears to be initiated by molecular chains which contact, and begin to crystallize upon, the surfaces of two or more different crystals, often some distance apart. Deposition continues until these molecular bridges are pulled taut. More molecules are laid down upon the bridges to build up the larger links, which are themselves crystalline and may well be extended-chain single crystals.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Surface Recrystallization of Polyethylene Extended-Chain Crystals.
B. Wunderlich and L. Melillo (1966)
Science 154, 1329-1330
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