The origin of the annular reflex on small angle X-ray photographs of polymers containing spherulites☆

Small and wide angle radiography was used to examine the supermolecular structural variation of low density PE samples containing spherulites 5–16 μm in diameter in uniaxial elongation. A comparison of the variations observed in small angle X-ray diffraction patterns with those, which may be assumed to take place during the deformation of spherulites with considerable tangential or radial periodicity, leads us to the conclusion that in the case of small spherulites large periodicity is also tangential, which enables us to make a reliable evaluation of spherulite deformation in uniaxial elongation.