Structure and crystal growth of low molecular weight polyethylene vapor-deposited on polymer friction-transferred layers

Abstract Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE: M w =2.3×10 6 ) was vapor-deposited on uniaxially-oriented poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and UHMWPE thin layers prepared by friction transfer. The deposited film was found to be a low molecular weight polyethylene (LMWPE, M w =2200). The LMWPE formed yarn-like crystals on the PTFE and UHMWPE layers and grew epitaxially. The epitaxial nucleation was dependent on the interaction between the deposited LMWPE crystal and substrate polymer crystal as well as the morphology of the substrate crystal.