Abstract
AbstractFibrous crystals of polyethylene are produced by crystallization from agitated solutions in xylene. If crystallization temperature is maintained between 97°C and 108°C these fibers are free from overgrowth effects and are seen to consist of flat, striated ribbons. This material was treated with fuming nitric acid, and the molecular weight distribution of the degradation product was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography. This distribution was found to consist of a low molecular weight peak and an exceptionally resistant high molecular weight tail over a wide range of degradation times in quantitative agreement with the serrations developed during the nitric acid attack. This is consistent with the fibers possessing a composite folded and extended chain structure. The lateral pulling out of smooth fibrils from the original fibers in the course of certain electron microscope sample preparation methods is consistent with the presence of chain‐folded material and might account for the structureless fibrils reported in the literature. Partially successful attempts to obtain the extended chain portion in pure form by selective dissolution are mentioned together with some low‐angle x‐ray results.
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