Epitaxial crystallization of crystalline polymers on the surface of drawn polytetrafluoroethylene

Abstract

Abstract Crystallization of crystalline polymers on the surface of drawn polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was studied. Further, cold-drawn polyethylene (PE) was heat treated in contact with drawn PTFE, holding their drawing axes at right angles to each other, and then the morphological change of PE at the interface was studied. Molecular orientation in the surface layer of the PE was examined by observing the molecular orientation of polycaprolactone (PCLn) crystallized on the PE surface. It was found that PE, PCLn, and nascent nylon 6 crystallize epitaxially on drawn PTFE, which is well known as a polymer having a low energy surface. Intermolecular interaction between PTFE and the overgrown crystalline polymers was explained on the basis of their crystal structures. The molecular orientation of PE in the interfacial region changes from the drawing direction of PE to the drawing direction of PTFE during annealing. It is proposed that PE partially melts during annealing, and nuclei of PE with their c-axis pa...