Orientation Control of High-Density Polyethylene Molecular Chains Using Atomic Force Microscope

Abstract

We have succeeded in the orientation control of molecular chains in high-density polyethylene thin films using an atomic force microscope as a modification tool. To modify the molecular orientation, we scanned a cantilever tip in contact with the film surface while the film temperature was kept just below its melting point. This “modification scan” aligned molecular chains parallel to the scan direction, thus well-aligned lamellar crystals were subsequently formed. Since polyethylene is the most simple linear crystalline polymer, the result strongly suggests the applicability of the technique to many other linear polymers, which promisingly expands its potential for device applications.