Structural changes and chain radius of gyration in cold-drawn polyethylene after annealing: small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering studies.

2005 
Samples made from linear polyethylene were drawn at room temperature and subsequently annealed at high temperatures below the melting point. The structural changes of the crystalline lamellae and lamellar superstructures as well as the single chain radius of gyration were studied by means of combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). After drawing, the polymeric chain segments in the crystalline phase are preferentially oriented along the drawing direction with a high degree of orientation whereas the lamellae in the samples are found to be slightly sheared exhibiting oblique surfaces as evidenced by X-ray scattering. SANS indicates that the chains are highly elongated along the drawing direction. Annealing the deformed samples at temperatures where the mechanical α-process of polyethylene is active leads to a thickening of both crystalline lamellae and amorphous layers. The chains in the crystalline phase retain their high degree of orientation after anneal...
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