Analysis of meridional x‐ray diffraction pattern of the γ form of nylon 6 and comparison of paracrystalline and microstrain models of lattice disorder

Abstract

AbstractAnalysis of the increase in the width of the seven meridional (OkO) reflections of the γ form of nylon 6 suggests microstrain rather than paracrystallinity as the source of lattice disorder along the chain axis. It is shown that the intensity of the (020) reflection depends not only on the amount of γ phase present in the fiber, but is also influenced by orientation, Lorentz factor, and crystallite size. Calculations confirm the presence of a weak, diffuse meridional band at 2θ=6° (Cu Kα) when the coherence length along the chain axis corresponds to less than two unit cells.