Crystalline Defects and Deformation Mechanisms in Semi-Crystalline Polymers.

摘要

The microstructure and subsequent mechanisms of deformation in polyethylene spherulites is very dependent on the method of spherulitic film preparation. Slowly cooled spherulites have been previously investigated in detail by transmission electron microscopy and diffraction, whereas the present work has been primarily concerned with the reproducible preparation of rapidly cooled high density polyethylene films which exihibit a banded spherulite morphology. Techniques for the preparation of deformed thin polyethylene films and their subsequent examination by scanning transmission electron microscopy and diffraction have been developed. Fine differences in the spherulite morphology have been identified, as have the differences between the operative deformation mechanisms in rapidly and slowly cooled spherulitic films. (Author)