Based on the theory originally devised by Born and Stern for crystals of the rare gases and alkali halides, lateral specific surface energies have been calculated for polyethylene from interatomic potentials. The specific surface energy of the {110} face was found to be about 100 to 140 ergssol;cm2; of the {100} face, about 6percnt; greater and of the {010} face, about 14percnt; greater. The broad range of values is due to the wide variety of interatomic potentials found in the literature. For infinitely long crystals of rhomboidal cross section the average edge energy is about3 times; 10minus;6thinsp;ergsol;cm. In a crystal of this type containing nine chains, the edge energy constitutes about 30percnt; of the surface energy.
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